MSME ministry to promote khadi in 12th plan

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Ministry of micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) will focus more on investments in designing and marketing of khadi products during the 12th Plan period (2012-2017), MSME secretary Uday Kumar Varma told a news agency here on Monday.

“Pick up just 50 specific products, including 10-15 khadi products across the country. For instance, the muslin produced in Mushirabad, 'tussar,' which is produced in Jharkhand. In the next five years, convert them into internationally-saleable commodities,” he said.

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The strategy for the 12th Plan period will be 'to revolutionise khadi by investing in production, designing, value-addition and marketing of the products', he said while inaugurating a design exhibition, organised by National Institute of Design (NID).

The khadi and village industries products usually fail to compete in the international market due to lack of marketing, branding and designing. The khadi and village industries products range from handmade paper, ready-made garments, honey, silk and muslin.

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They need proper designing so that they become competitive with other varieties available in the market, Varma said.

In the next five years, there is a need to set up 10 more NIDs to cater the growing designing demand of the MSME sector, he said, adding that it would generate huge job opportunities.

To revitalise khadi sector, the government with the assistance of Asian Development Bank is providing assistance worth USD 150 million to 300 khadi institutions.

The reform programme, Khadi Reforms and Development Programme, will also open 20 new sales outlets in metros and state capitals and assist in renovation and modernisation of the existing outlets.

In the exhibition, the NID displayed 10 MSME products ranging from ENT multi scope to water pump redesigned by the institute with the help of Design Clinics scheme of the Ministry.