By IANS
Jaipur : Rajasthan is going all out to promote khadi, the humble and now increasingly trendy hand-spun cotton, in the international market and hopes to hold an exhibition of khadi products in the US.
"With a view to promoting khadi internationally, an exhibition of khadi products will be organised in New York soon," Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje said while inaugurating a khadi exhibition in Bikaner recently.
Though she did not disclose any details and dates, Raje said her government was fully committed to popularising khadi in the international market.
She highlighted the need for designing and producing khadi clothes and accessories keeping in mind existing fashions. The chief minister stressed that the products should be of high quality, which would encourage customers to opt for buying and wearing khadi.
Rajasthan had unveiled a new project for popularising khadi called 'Fashion for Development' a few months ago. It aims at achieving economic and social development to build a sustainable future for the rural population.
The Rs.55 million programme was planned following a downward trend of khadi production in the state.
In 1996-97, Rajasthan produced khadi worth Rs.400 million with as many as 100,000 weavers and their associates involved in the production. However, 2005-06 witnessed a slump with only Rs.280 million worth of khadi produced. The number of weavers was also reduced to 60,000.
The Rajasthan government has entered into collaboration with acclaimed Bangladeshi designer Bibi Russel to improve the quality and designs of handlooms and khadi.