Minister pays rich tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his 146th Birth Anniversary

Stresses on proper implementation of ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’

SRINAGAR: Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr. Chander Prakash Ganga today said that the production of Khadi and Village Industries Sector has touched Rs 833 crore in the year 2014-15 in Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking at a function organised by KVIB here to commemorate the Gandhi Jyanti, the Minister said Jammu and Kashmir Khadi & Village Industries Board has till date financed 44729 units thereby generating employment opportunities for 84814 persons in the State. He said more than 90 Khadi institutions are working in the state which provide direct employment to thousands of artisans and produce Khadi goods worth Rs 59 crores.

He said the present Coalition Government is keen to develop Khadi and Village Industries Board (KVIB) of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Minister who is also Chairman of J&K Khadi and Village Industries Board highlighted the role of Gandhi in freedom struggle of the country.

The Minister said the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises sector contributes 8 percent of GDP in nation’s economy and 45 percent of manufacturing output and 40 percent of the exports in terms of value. He said Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises sector is the second largest employment provider after agriculture sector. It provides employment to 6 crore persons in the country, he said.

The Minister said to provide employment to millions of rural unemployed youth and to fulfill the dream of Gandhi’s rural industrialization, Khadi and Village Industries Commission/Boards were established in the country after independence. He said the real India lives in rural areas and if India has to develop in real sense the people in villages have to be empowered economically.India has a rich heritage of craftsmanship of varied and luxurious handicrafts and handloom products. Khadi and Village Industries Sector caters to the requirements of artisans and rural unemployed youth.

He stressed the need for proper implementation of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by the Central Government on Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi’s initiative for the fulfillment of Mahatma Gandhi’s vision for the proper cleanliness of the Nation including Jammu and Kashmir.

Chairman, KVI Federation, Mr. Mushtaq Ahmed Qureshi highlighted the charter of demands before the Minister including seeking 10 percent additional subsidy to the state at par with the other states of the country.

Secretary, Khadi Village and Industries Board, Mr. Mir Afroz, Director, KVIC, Director, Handicraft, Chairman, Joint Director, KVIB, senior officers of KVIB, a large number of artisans and officials of KVIB also present on the occasion.