Country's first Khadi plaza to come up in Panipat

Panipat, Aug 2 (UNI) A sprawling Khadi Plaza, the first of its kind in the country, will come up in this textile town to exclusively promote Khadi products, Khadi Commission Chairperson Kumud Ben Joshi said here.

Talking to mediapersons here last night, Ms Joshi said the proposed Khadi plaza will contain 100 shops including an exhibition hall and a food court.

The Commission, committed to fulfil Mahatma Gandhi's dream of 'gram swaraj', (self reliance in villages) had also planned to encourage self-employment as well as job opportunities in rural and sub-urban centres by boosting cottage industries like Khadi and poly vastra weaving, Herbal products including cosmetics and medicines, food processing, detergents and soaps making, apiary, handmade paper, bio-fertilisers, bio- pesticides, bio-manure, pottery, leather and wood work.

Under the scheme, financial assistance ranging from 5 to 25 lakh will be provided to the persons interested to setup industries for the production of these items, she added.

The funds shall be released in accordance with the progress in the project within specific time-frame.

Ms Joshi said that the commission will provide sustained assistance to the manufacturing units through various measures including training facilities to upgrade artisan's skill, raw material support, new designs and product diversification advice and preparation of product catalogue.

UNI