With khadi-clad political leaders out on the general election campaign trail,the Khadi Gram Udyog outlets are doing brisk business as sales have picked up as much as 25 per cent in March. Khadi Bhawan,the flagship store of Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC),has reported a sharp rise in business totalling Rs 1.60 crore in the first three weeks of March. "Demand for khadi products has picked up after announcement of general elections. During March,there is an increase in retail sales to the tune of 25 per cent as compared to the corresponding period in 2008," said KVIC Director S P Singh. Along with the trade mark dress of political workers and leaders,demand for the national flag has also gone up by around five per cent,Singh said,adding KVIC will accept fresh orders from the parties. The KVIC procures the hand-spun fabric from artisans across the country. "Different states have different varieties," he said. While khadi silk is sourced from West Bengal,Bihar,Orissa and North Eastern states,khadi cotton comes from Andhra Pradesh,Uttar Pradesh,Bihar and West Bengal. Artisans in Gujarat and Rajasthan spin khadi poly and Haryana,Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir are known for the woolen variety. The first phase of elections for the 15th Lok Sabha will be held on April 16 to be followed by four other phases up to May 13. Khadi was launched in 1920 as a political weapon in the Swadeshi movement of Mahatma Gandhi. It was treated as the best instrument for giving concrete expression to the Swadeshi Spirit to boycott foreign goods. The first production centre was established at Katiawad,Gujarat. Mahatma Gandhi used to refer to Khadi as "The livery of freedom".
