Crafting Comfort: The Future of Footwear in India
An article by Gagandeep Kohli, CEO of NoStrain India is the world’s second-largest footwear producer, after China, as was previously…
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Keeping up with father of nation, Mahatma GandhiâÂÂs credo for serving all the needy without any distinction, Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has launched a spinning and weaving training programme for undertrials at the district jail in Gurugram in Haryana.
The Commission has set up a training cum production centre for the purpose. It is equipped with 50 new model charkhas and two looms. Seventy undertrials are undergoing the training.’
According to an understanding reached between KVIC and jail authorities, the fabrics produced will be used for making uniforms for inmates and such other purposes within the prison itself. The trainees would be paid for whatever they produce.
Normally, prisoners and undertrials earn Rs. 25 per day from work involving physical labour. With this initiative of KVIC, they will earn Rs. 150 to Rs. 250 per day depending on their output. The income they earn will be credited in their jail account and given to them when they leave the prison.
Supreme Court Judge, Justice Madan B.Lokur, inaugurated the training and production centre in the presence of KVIC Chairman, V.K.Saxena, and Haryana Director General [Prison], V.K.Singhal.
Speaking on the occasion, Justice Lokur appreciated the effort of KVIC and expressed hope that the training would help the under-trials to also engage themselves gainfully once they are discharged from the jail.
KVIC Chairman noted that spinning was the best way of meditation and would inculcate self discipline and help a person concentrate on good things in life. “”Spinning can calm the angry. When these inmates come out of the jail, they will be able to restart their life with dignity””.
In recent years, KVIC has been taking several initiatives to improve the lives of the common man through such training programmes and through that help in the socio-economic development of the country. Commission set a new record, registering a 20 per cent increase in Khadi sales during the lean season period of April to August.
Last year, the Commission had registered a sale of Rs. 628.16 crore during April to August and this year, this has zoomed to Rs. 754 crore for the same period, a record increase of 20 per cent. The record sale has also meant a quantum jump in Khadi production. The production for April to August period this year was Rs. 510 crore, an increase of 15 per cent over last yearâÂÂs Rs. 444 crore for the same period.
The record growth in Khadi sale and production augured well for the socio-economic development of the country as it left more disposal income at the hands of the artisans in rural areas.
(The writer is an independent journalist based in Delhi.)”
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