Lok Sabha Question No. 1422 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-15
Subject: Khadi India
Ministry: MICRO,SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
Asked by: Jaisiddeshwar Shivacharya Mahaswamiji, Umesh G. Jadhav, L.S. Tejasvi Surya, Prathap Simha, Sanganna Amarappa Karadi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1422 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2022

## KHADI INDIA

## 1422.   SHRI SHA. BRA. DR. JAI SIDDESHWAR SHIVACHARYA MAHASWAMIJI:

SHRI L.S. TEJASVI SURYA:

SHRI SANGANNA AMARAPPA:

SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA:

DR. UMESH G. JADHAV:

Will the Minister of MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Khadi India has taken several steps to help in countering domestic and foreign goods in many parts of the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether Khadi India is committed to cooperate with all to preserve traditional art and craft of the people in many parts of the country; and
- (c) if so, the measures taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SHRI BHANU PRATAP SINGH VERMA)

- (a): Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has a wide network of 8 Departmental Sales  Outlets  'Khadi  India'  with  its  18  branches  and  8035  Khadi  Sales  Outlets  of  Khadi Institutions  (KIs)  and  plays  a  major  role  in  creating  a  network  between  the  rural  artisans producing Khadi and Village Industries (KVI) products and the consumers living in urban areas. In addition, KVIC has taken the following steps for promotion of KVI products to counter foreign goods:
- 1) Launched  an  official e-commerce  portal  'khadiindia.gov.in'  exclusively to sell  KVI products, where only listed KIs are allowed to sell Khadi products.
- 2) Obtained trade mark registration for the wordmark 'KHADI' and the 'Khadi India' logos in  India,  under  most  of  the  classes,  including  classes-24  &  25  (textiles  and  textiles products).
- 3) Popularizing  KVI  products  by  organizing  exhibitions  at  various  levels  to  make  them accessible in the domestic and international markets.
- 4) US-based world's leading fashion brand, Patagonia, is now using handcrafted Khadi Denim fabric for making Denim apparels. Patagonia, through Arvind Mills, has purchased Khadi Denim Fabric.
- 5) Centre of Excellence (CoE) has been established for providing design intervention, product development and increasing marketability of Khadi products.
- 6) KVIC  arranged  supply/marketing  mechanism  of  KVI  products  including  specialized  in heritage and indigenous art and craft, through e-Market linkage for MSMEs - GeM portal (gem.gov.in), dedicated online portal (kviconline.gov.in) and accredited e-marketing portal (www.ekhadiindia.com).

- 7) Exclusive Khadi Lounges have been opened at Kevadia (Gujarat) and at the airports in New Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bhopal and Goa to showcase the KVI products for national and international tourists.
- 8) KVIC has taken the services of fashion designers for promotion of KVI products.

(b)&(c): The following measures have been taken to safeguard and preserve the brands of KVI products:

- 1) Khadi Trademark Registration for safeguarding interests of Khadi brands and boosting the sale of Khadi products.
- 2) KVIC  has  removed  the  unauthorized  entities  which  are  selling  KVI  products  from  ecommerce sites and social media platforms.
- 3) Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Govt. of India conveyed the allocation of separate HS Code for 11 numbers of Khadi products so that the brand is protected and the international trades of our heritage products are tracked.
- 4) Notification has been issued to all Central Govt. Ministries, Departments and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) to procure minimum 25% of their annual value of goods and services from these Micro & Small Enterprises (MSEs) registered with District Industries Centres (DICs)/ KVIC/ State Khadi and Village Industries Boards (KVIBs)/ Coir Board/ National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC)/ Directorate of Handicraft and Handloom/ any other body specified by Ministry of MSME.

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