Gujarat to get Khadi Research Centre

New Delhi, 19 December 2011

Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Rural Industrialization (MGIRI) have prepared a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for a Research and Development Centre at Ahmedabad in Gujarat, which inter alia requires contribution from Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) and from Gujarat Khadi Gramodyog Mandal.

The steps taken by the Ministry to promote the export of khadi and village industries (KVI) products through KVIC include: (i) providing incentives to KVI institutions on direct export of KVI items, (ii) providing support through KVIC, which is having the status of deemed Export Promotion Council (EPC) and (iii) participation in international trade fairs.

This Ministry had requested the Ministry of Rural Development to consider including khadi and coir spinning activities in the list of permissible activities under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Ministry of Rural Development have intimated that inclusion of khadi under MGNREGA was not found feasible as the focus of the Act is on unskilled manual work.

This information was given by the Union Cabinet Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Shri Virbhadra Singh in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.