Government promoting use of khadi by Air India, Railways: Giriraj Singh

NEW DELHI: To revive the khadi industry, Indian Railways and Air India are being encouraged to use products made up of the fabrics in trains and aeroplanes even as the KVIC's sales grew 24 per cent in 2015-16, Parliament was today informed.

"Yes Sir. Indian Railways and Air India are being encouraged to use khadi fabrics in order to promote Khadi industries," Minister of State in the MSME Ministry Giriraj Singh said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha to a query on whether the government is taking any steps to promote khadi in these two entities.

The Minister informed that orders worth Rs 77.67 crore were received from Indian Railways in 2015-16 whereas those received from Air India were of Rs 8.29 lakh.

Besides, the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has increased its sale from Rs 33,135.90 crore in 2014-15 to Rs 41,125.97 crore in 2015-16 (provisional), registering a growth of around 24 per cent.