Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah participated as the Chief Guest at the Khadi Karigar Mahotsav in Rohtak, Haryana today. On this occasion, Chief Minister of Haryana Shri Nayab Singh Saini, Union Minister of State for Cooperation Shri Krishan Pal Gurjar, and Union Minister Shri Rao Inderjit Singh, along with several other dignitaries, were present.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that during the freedom movement, Mahatma Gandhi used Khadi to eradicate poverty, make the country self-reliant, promote the idea of Swadeshi, and achieve independence. Mahatma Gandhi initiated Khadi, which brought about a revolutionary change in the lives of millions of weavers across the country. He further said that the mantra of Khadi became a cornerstone for the people of our country and the freedom movement.

Shri Amit Shah stated that after independence, opposition governments neglected Khadi and did nothing for its development. When Shri Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, he resolved to revive Khadi. After becoming Prime Minister, Modi Ji encouraged the people of the country to use Khadi through his Mann Ki Baat program. He noted that in 2014-15, the turnover of Khadi and Village Industries was 33,000 crore rupees, which has now increased to 1.70 lakh crore rupees. The entire turnover of Khadi is utilized in providing employment to weavers and the women of the country. Shri Shah stated that Khadi has undergone significant changes to align with modern times, and with excellent packaging and marketing arrangements, people have been encouraged to use it. He further said that if the work done for the development of Khadi in the last 11 years had been consistently carried out since independence, the problem of unemployment would never have arisen in our country.

Union Home Minister said that today, 12 resources such as electrically operated charkhas, traditional spinning wheels, sewing machines, and leather repairing toolkits have been distributed to the artisans. He said that today, margin money of Rs 301 crore has also been distributed. Additionally, the Organic Cotton Central Wool Plant, Wardha was inaugurated today. Furthermore, 40 modernized outlets were launched, along with the inauguration of 8,000 new Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) units across the country.

Shri Amit Shah stated that at the time of independence, the concept of Swaraj was incomplete without Swadeshi and Swabhasha. He said that Prime Minister Modi Ji recently urged the people of the country to use only indigenous products. Shri Shah noted that many traders across the country have resolved not to keep foreign goods in their shops. This slogan of Swadeshi for the vision of a self-reliant India will prove highly beneficial for all citizens living in the rural areas of India.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that Prime Minister Modi Ji has envisioned a fully developed India by 2047, which, on the centenary of independence, will hold the top position in every field globally. He said that the Swadeshi and Khadi campaign will play a significant role in this vision. Shri Shah further noted that Prime Minister Modi Ji has reduced GST to zero or 5 per cent on more than 395 essential items for the benefit of the country's people, and the greatest benefit of this will be for our mothers and sisters.

Shri Amit Shah stated that during the time of independence, Khadi provided the country with an opportunity to achieve the goals of self-employment, rural industry, self-reliance, social equality, and self-sufficiency, while also giving momentum to the freedom movement from a political perspective. He said that Mahatma Gandhi carried forward India's heritage, and through Prime Minister Modi Ji's major campaign of adopting Khadi and Swadeshi, the country is once again moving towards self-reliance.

Union Home Minister urged all citizens of the country to ensure that every family purchases Khadi worth Rs.5,000 annually. He stated that this would propel the country towards self-reliance. Shri Shah said that Khadi benefits the body, the homes of the poor, and the nation’s economy. The Khadi and Village Industries Commission has advanced the "Khadi for Nation" initiative and adopted Prime Minister Modi ji’s slogan of "Khadi for Fashion." Shri Shah noted that Prime Minister Modi ji has linked Khadi with beekeeping, leatherwork, and the use of pure household products. He mentioned that there are five Central Wool Plants across the country, three of which have been renovated, and the renovation of the remaining two is ongoing. Once these two plants are renovated, the wool plants will gain new life, and millions of Khadi weavers across the country will see a new ray of hope.

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RK/VV/PS