Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday attended the Khadi Karigar Mahotsav in Rohtak, Haryana, as the Chief Guest. The event also saw the presence of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Union Ministers Krishan Pal Gurjar and Rao Inderjit Singh, along with several other dignitaries.
Addressing the gathering, Shah highlighted the historic and cultural importance of Khadi, recalling how Mahatma Gandhi used it as a powerful tool during the freedom struggle to eradicate poverty, promote Swadeshi, and achieve self-reliance. “Khadi became a mantra for India’s independence and transformed the lives of millions of weavers,” he said.
Criticising previous governments for neglecting Khadi after independence, Shah credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with reviving the fabric’s significance. “When Modi ji was Chief Minister of Gujarat, he resolved to promote Khadi. After becoming Prime Minister, he inspired the nation through ‘Mann Ki Baat.’ As a result, Khadi’s turnover rose from ₹33,000 crore in 2014–15 to ₹1.70 lakh crore today. Every rupee of this turnover goes into providing employment to weavers and women,” Shah noted.
He added that Khadi has been modernised with improved packaging and marketing strategies, making it relevant to younger generations. “If such efforts had continued since independence, unemployment would not have been a problem in our country,” he remarked.
During the event, Shah distributed 12 types of resources, including electric charkhas, sewing machines, and leather repair toolkits, to artisans. Margin money worth ₹301 crore was also released, alongside the inauguration of the Organic Cotton Central Wool Plant in Wardha. Additionally, 40 modernised Khadi outlets were launched, and 8,000 new units under the Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) were opened nationwide.
Shah emphasised the government’s commitment to rural industry and self-reliance, noting that Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has expanded the scope of Khadi to include beekeeping, leatherwork, and household products.
Underscoring the link between Khadi and the broader vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, Shah urged citizens to purchase at least ₹5,000 worth of Khadi products annually. “Khadi benefits the body, the homes of the poor, and the nation’s economy. By embracing Swadeshi, we will help achieve Prime Minister Modi ji’s vision of a developed India by 2047,” he said.
Shah also pointed out that Modi’s government has reduced GST on over 395 essential items to zero or 5 per cent, a move that, he said, directly benefits women and households across the country.
Concluding his address, Shah said Khadi is not just fabric but a symbol of India’s heritage, self-sufficiency, and empowerment. “Through Modi ji’s campaign of adopting Khadi and Swadeshi, India is once again moving strongly towards self-reliance,” he said.