New Delhi, Aug 31 (Representative) Appealing to the citizens to treat khadi as a ‘National Fabric’ and promote its use extensively, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday asked educational institutions to explore using Khadi in school uniforms. Speaking at the launch of ‘Khadi India Quiz Contest’ organized as part of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), Naidu called upon celebrities from various fields to come forward and promote the use of Khadi in a big way. Naidu expressed his happiness over the phenomenal turnaround of Khadi in the last 7 years and lauded the government, KVIC, and all the stakeholders for accelerating the growth. “I am happy to note that KVIC has succeeded in establishing a pan-India reach and has connected people with sustainable self-employment activities even in the remotest corners of the country,” he added.
The Vice President recalled the historical relevance of Khadi and said it was a binding force for the masses during the freedom movement. He mentioned how Mahatma Gandhi in the year 1918 started the Khadi movement to generate a source of income for the poverty-stricken masses and later turned it into a powerful symbolic tool against foreign rule. Referring to the environmental benefits of Khadi, Naidu said that Khadi has zero carbon footprint as it does not require electricity or any kind of fuel for its manufacturing. He said, “At a time when the world is looking for sustainable alternatives in clothing, it should be remembered that Khadi as an eco-friendly and sustainable fabric certainly meets the requirement.” The Vice President called upon educational institutions to explore using Khadi for uniforms. He said that it will not only allow students to experience the many benefits of Khadi but will also help them connect with our great freedom fighters and freedom movement. “Due to its porous texture, Khadi is eminently suitable for our local climatic conditions,” he added. He appealed to the youth to make Khadi a fashion statement and promote its use among everyone with passion.