Announcement likely next week.
By Sreekanth A. Nair
The Khadi Gramodyog Bhawan, under the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), is gearing up to introduce ‘Made in India’ khadi garments to the Air India One cabin crew, which is the official aircraft of the President, the Prime Minister and the Vice-President of India.
The organization, under the government of India, has already secured an order regarding this. The decision is likely to be announced next week.
“The idea of introducing khadi garments for the crew on Air India One is to promote adoption of the fabric, especially among the youth,” a top KVIC official told Press Trust of India.
Once the official announcement is done, female crew members will be wearing silk saree and male members will be wearing Jodhpuri bandhgala coats, trousers and jackets made up of khadi.
Khadi Gramodyog Bhawan has received an order to issue 150 silk sarees, 25 Jodhpuri bandhgala coats, 40 trousers and 40 jackets at an estimated cost of $13,235.
KVIC is conducting discussions with private airlines and the railways to initiate the adoption of khadi in those organizations.
Earlier, KVIC had received an order to supply travel kits worth Rs 1.25 crore to business class travelers of Air India.
A hand-woven cloth made out of cotton, khadi is closely related to India’s freedom struggle. Mahatma Gandhi was the prominent person who promoted the use of khadi as part of ‘swadeshi movement’ (self-sufficiency).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also taken the effort to promote khadi as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.