PM participates in Khadi Utsav at the Sabarmati River Front
A thread of Khadi became the strength of freedom movement and broke the chains of slavery: PM
Women’s power is also a major contributor to the growing strength of Khadi industry: PM
Atal Bridge is also unprecedented in design and innovation: PM
Khadi and Village Industries created 1.75 crore new jobs in last 8 years: PM
Ahmedabad/New Delhi, 27th August: Describing Khadi as the heritage of the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the thread of Khadi, which strengthens the freedom movement, can become a source of inspiration for a developed and self-reliant India. He said that spinning on the charkha is no less than worship.
Addressing the Khadi festival on Saturday, Prime Minister Modi recalled his personal association with the spinning wheel. He remembered his childhood, when his mother used to work on the spinning wheel. He said, “This bank of Sabarmati has become blessed today. During the 75th anniversary of India’s independence, 7,500 sisters and daughters together created a new history by spinning yarn on a charkha. He said that spinning on the charkha is no less than worship.
Referring to the excellence of technology and design of ‘Atal Bridge’, which was inaugurated on Saturday itself, he said that this bridge is a tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, whom the people of Gujarat always loved and respected.
Prime Minister Modi said, “The Atal Bridge is not only connecting the two banks of the Sabarmati river, but it is also unprecedented in bridge design and innovation. Its design has also taken care of the famous kite festival of Gujarat. Modi also mentioned the enthusiasm with which the Tricolor campaign was celebrated in India.
He said that these celebrations not only reflect the spirit of patriotism, but also the resolve of a modern and developed India. Modi said, “Your hands are weaving the fabric of India while spinning the yarn on the charkha.”
The Prime Minister further said, “History is witness that a thread of Khadi became the force of freedom movement, it broke the chains of slavery. The same thread of Khadi can become a source of inspiration to fulfill the promise of a developed India and to fulfill the dream of a self-reliant India. He further added, “Traditional forces like Khadi can take us to new heights.” He said that this Khadi festival is an attempt to revive the spirit and history of the freedom movement and an inspiration to achieve the resolve of New India.
In his remarks, the Prime Minister recalled the Panch-Pranas, which he had announced on 15 August from the Red Fort. He said, “At this holy place on the banks of Sabarmati, I want to repeat the Pancha-Pranas. First- the huge goal in front of the country, the goal of making a developed India. Second- the complete abandonment of the slavery mentality. Third- Proud of your heritage. Fourth- vigorous effort to increase the unity of the nation and fifth- civic duty. He said that today’s Khadi festival is a beautiful reflection of Pancha Prana.
In the post-independence era, the Prime Minister emphasized the neglect of Khadi. The Prime Minister said that the Khadi which Mahatma Gandhi made the country proud during the freedom movement, the same Khadi was filled with inferiority complex after independence. Because of this, Khadi and the village industry associated with Khadi were completely destroyed. This condition of Khadi was very painful especially for Gujarat.
He expressed pride that the work of reviving Khadi was done on the land of Gujarat. The Prime Minister emphasized on the Government’s pledge of ‘Khadi for Transformation’ to ‘Khadi for the Nation, Khadi for Fashion’.
In this context, he further said, “We started spreading the experiences of Gujarat’s success to the whole country. The problems which were related to Khadi across the country were solved. We encouraged the countrymen to buy Khadi products.” The Prime Minister also appreciated the contribution of women in the process of revival of Khadi.
He said that “Women power is also a major contributor to the growing strength of India’s Khadi industry. The spirit of entrepreneurship is inherent in our sisters and daughters. The proof of this is also the expansion of Sakhi Mandals in Gujarat.
He informed that the sale of Khadi has increased four times in the last 8 years and for the first time the business of Khadi and Village Industries has crossed one lakh crore. The sector also created 1.75 crore new jobs. He said that financial inclusion schemes like Mudra Yojana are promoting entrepreneurship.
The Prime Minister appealed to the people of the country to gift only the products made in Khadi Village Industries in the coming festivals. He said, “You can have clothes made of different types of fabrics. But if you also include Khadi in it, then the Vocal for Local campaign will gain momentum.”
Recalling that in the last decades India’s own prosperous toy industry was getting destroyed in the race for foreign toys. The Prime Minister highlighted that with the efforts of the Government and the hard work of our brothers and sisters in the toy industry, the situation has started changing. As a result, there has been a sharp decline in the import of toys.
