Gandhi Jayanti Brings Wage Hike for Khadi Artisans Across India
On Gandhi Jayanti, the Indian government announced a wage increase for Khadi artisans. The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), part of the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, implemented this change. Spinners will see a 25% wage increase, while weavers will receive a 7% hike. A special discount on Khadi and Village Industries products is also available nationwide.
Details of the Wage Increase
Manoj Kumar, Chairman of KVIC, explained that spinners’ wages will rise from Rs 10 to Rs 12.50 per hank. This is the second wage increase during his tenure, with the last one in April 2023. The announcement was made on September 17, 2024, at Mahatma Gandhi’s birthplace, Porbandar, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday celebration.
Impact on Khadi Artisans
The wage increase aims to economically empower Khadi artisans, with around 4.98 lakh artisans employed across 3,000 registered Khadi institutions. Nearly 80% of these artisans are women. Under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, wages have increased by 213% over the past decade, boosting rural India’s economic empowerment through Khadi.
Doubts Revealed
Gandhi Jayanti -: Gandhi Jayanti is a national holiday in India celebrated on October 2nd every year. It marks the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, who was a leader in India’s struggle for independence.
Khadi -: Khadi is a type of hand-spun and hand-woven cloth. It was popularized by Mahatma Gandhi as a symbol of self-reliance and independence during India’s freedom movement.
Artisans -: Artisans are skilled workers who make things by hand. In this context, Khadi artisans are people who spin and weave Khadi cloth.
Khadi and Village Industries Commission -: The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) is an organization in India that promotes and supports the production of Khadi and other village industries. It helps artisans by providing them with resources and support.
Wage Hike -: A wage hike means an increase in the amount of money workers are paid for their work. In this case, Khadi artisans are getting more money for their work.
Porbandar -: Porbandar is a city in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is famous for being the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi.
Prime Minister Modi -: Prime Minister Modi refers to Narendra Modi, who is the current Prime Minister of India. He has been in office since 2014.
4.98 lakh -: In India, a lakh is a unit equal to one hundred thousand (100,000). So, 4.98 lakh means 498,000 artisans.
