To accomplish the  vision of 'New Khadi of New India', Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) organized a grand distribution program under the Gramodyog Vikas Yojana Scheme at Kuvempu Kannada Auditorium, GKVK Campus, Agricultural University, Yelahanka Airport Road, Bengaluru on Saturday. The Chief Guest of the program was Ms. Shobha Karandlaje, Minister of State, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India. In her august presence Shri Manoj Kumar, Chairman KVIC distributed equipment and machines to the beneficiaries. On this occasion, sewing machines were distributed to 190 women beneficiaries, electric pottery wheels to 80 potters, 20 automatic agarbatti manufacturing machines, 50 footwear repairing toolkits, 10 footwear manufacturing machines as well as 200 bee-boxes and bee-colonies to 20 beekeepers through virtual mode.

Addressing the programme, Union Minister of State Ms. Shobha Karandlaje said “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Khadi and Village Industries has perceived an unprecedented transformation in the last 11 years. Presently, Khadi is not only a symbol of self-reliance, but has also become a living example of indigenous pride. The Prime Minister's appeal of 'Vocal for Local' Khadi has reached to large number of people. The 550 toolkits, Bee boxes, electric pottery wheels, sewing machines and other equipment distributed to 370 women and men artisans will set a new foundation, self-reliance and reverence in their lives. The path to prosperity of rural India goes  through these skilled hands.”

She appreciated KVIC’s schemes in economically empowering rural India, mentioning the achievements made in the field of Khadi and Village Industries in the last 11 years. She also urged the people of Karnataka to take maximum advantage of these schemes and become an active part of the 'Viksit Bharat Mission '.

Addressing on this occasion, KVIC Chairman Shri Manoj Kumar reiterated that with the inspiration of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Khadi and Village Industries have emerged as a national movement. In the financial year 2024-25, the total production of Khadi and Village Industries was Rs 1,16,599 crore with sales of Rs 1,70,551 crore, providing employment to 1.94 crore people. Speaking about the Khadi sector alone, the production was Rs 3,783 crore and achieved sales of Rs 7,145 crore, providing employment to more than 5 lakh people. These figures affirm to the transformation that has taken place in a decade.” He further said, “In the last 11 years, production in the Khadi and Village Industries sector has increased 4 times, sales has increased 5 times and employment rose by 49 percent. This outstanding progress is an example of the economic and social change under the leadership of the Prime Minister.”

While highlighting the achievements of the state office, Chairman mentioned that in the financial year 2024-25, the production of Khadi in the state of Karnataka was Rs 480 crore and the production of Village Industry was Rs 13.50 crore, which provided employment to 22,468 persons. In total of Rs 39.50 crore was given to 74 institutions under MMDA, Rs 8.68 crore to 85 institutions under ISEC, and Rs 1.64 crore to 182 artisans under the Work shed Scheme. Along with this, 800 Bee boxes, 600 electric powered pottery wheels, 120 leather toolkits, 40 agarbatti machines, 20 Waste wood and Turn wood machines and 270 service industry toolkits were also distributed under Village Industry. Besides this, under Prime Minister Employment Generation Program (PMEGP), in total 48,506 new units were established in Karnataka from the year 2008-09 to 2024-25, for which the Government of India distributed margin money subsidy of Rs 1364 crore. These units have provided employment to 4,81,559 people in Karnataka.

A large number of artisans, women beneficiaries, representatives of Khadi institutions, other rural entrepreneurs, officers and employees of Karnataka Government and KVIC were also present in this program.

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