PM's 'Mann Ki Baat': Khadi Sales up by 125 pc after my appeal

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SME Times News Bureau | 03 Nov, 2014
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday said the sale of khadi products had gone up by almost 125 percent since he urged the people to opt for the hand-woven cotton fabric.

"I was told that khadi sales increased by almost 125 percent," Modi said on the 'Mann Ki Baat' programme on All India Radio which was aired at 11.00 a.m. on Sunday.

"I urged people to purchase khadi last time. I never said become khadiwadi but I said buy some khadi. There was increase in khadi (sales)," he added.

He said his appeal had evoked response because people have started caring about the country.

"The youth of the nation want to do something and are doing things. People care. People now want to take up social responsibilities," Modi said.

Earlier, launching his "Make in India" campaign, Modi had also asked people to buy "at least one khadi product".

Following his appeal on his first radio address on Oct 3, outlets run by state-run Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) saw a jump in sales.

At KVIC headquarters in Mumbai, officials said there has been a substantial rise in the sales after Modi's appeal.

"In Mumbai, 138 stalls at KVIC headquarters made a daily sale of Rs.7-8 lakh this year. Last year, the sale had averaged Rs.2-3 lakh," said Rajan Babu, director-marketing, KVIC.

"According to initial reports, within 10 days of Modi's call, the Khadi Bhandar at Connaught Place in New Delhi started registering daily sales of around Rs.50 lakh while there has been a definite rise across 7,000 outlets in the country," he added.

Addressing the nation for the second time in successive months -- the address was televised on Doordarshan too, Modi also said his government was on the right track to bring back black money and there would be no bias towards anyone.