Kochi: The Kerala model of employee welfare initiatives
in khadi sector is being emulated by other States. The
State on Thursday occupies a leading position in the khadi
map of the country, said Mahavir Prasad, union minister
of small scale agro rural industries, here.
He
was speaking after the opening ceremony of the seven-storey
office-cummarketing complex of the Kerala Khadi and Village
Industries Board. The new complex at Kochi will display
wide range of khadi products .The minister lauded Kerala
for topping in various spheres of life.
``Economic
surveys by leading journals have acknowledged Kerala''s
contribution. The State is also top on the khadi map,''''
he said. Kerala is also the only State to give a 10 percent
rebate on khadi throughout the year, Mahavir Prasad said.
He also praised the public and private sector banks in
Kerala for assistance rendered to the khadi industry,
the minister said.
In
his presidential address, C.F. Thomas, rural development
minister said marketing of khadi products was one of the
challenges faced by the industry.``Our products are of
high quality. But they can''t compete with the other major
brands riding on big-budget ad campaigns. This complex
will go a long way to help market khadi products,'''' the
minister said.
Terming
khadi as a solution to unemployment problem, he said khadi
industries have given job opportunities to more than two
lakh youth in the state. ``This can be followed in other
states also,'''' he said.
Excise
minister K.V. Thomas also spoke. K. Babu, dominic presentation
and V.K. Ibrahimkunju, MLA, L. Radhakrishnan, secretary,
industries, V.M. Kolakkadu, chairman, Kerala Khadi Employees
Welfare Board, R. Prabhakar Rao, director, Khadi Commission,
E.K. Chellappan and Baby Uzhathuval, Board members, offered
felicitations.
K.C.
Rajan, vice-chairman, welcomed the gathering and E. N.
Govindankutty,marketing director proposed a vote of thanks.
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