Guwahati (The Stellar News): The BJP led Assam coalition government in Dispur has decided to offer khadi shirt, eri shawl and eri stole to its employees free of cost in a phased manner. The first phase covering the grade four male and female employees will begin by this month. State chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, while pursuing for the initiative argues that it was resolved as a mark of respect to Mahatma Gandhi and his influential khadi movement. Moreover, he added that, it was taken in the true spirit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for Atmanirbhar Bharat and Dispur’s various activities for making Assam self-reliant.
Sonowal asked the concerned department to ensure its successful and expeditious implementation. He added that the government’s decision to gift khadi clothes to its employees would strengthen the khadi industry as the move will empower local weavers in meeting the demand of 80000 khadi shirts, shawls and stoles in the first phase itself. “The khadi industry is the pride of local industry. Promotion of this industry will amount to endorsing of an ideology of self-reliance and empowerment of every single man and woman,” said Sonowal after taking stock of the activities of State khadi and village industries board. Stating that the board needs a fresh lease of life, Sonowal assured of necessary steps to open new outlets for various khadi products.
In presence of State handloom and textile minister Ranjit Dutta, State khadi board chairman Kamala Kalita, additional chief secretary Paban Borthakur and other senior government officers, Sonowal reiterated that giving adequate importance to khadi industries would amount to showing tributes to the freedom movement leaders who sacrificed a lot of the country’s independence.
