Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah attended the Khadi Karigar Mahotsav in Rohtak as the Chief Guest, highlighting the resurgence of Khadi as a symbol of Swadeshi and self-reliance under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Union Minister of State for Cooperation Krishan Pal Gurjar, and Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh were also present at the event.
In his address, Amit Shah recalled how Mahatma Gandhi used Khadi as a tool of social and economic transformation during the freedom struggle, empowering millions of weavers. He emphasised that while Khadi was neglected for decades after independence, Modi revived it—first as Chief Minister of Gujarat and later as Prime Minister—through initiatives like Mann Ki Baat and the national campaign Khadi Apnao, Swadeshi Apnao.
Shah underlined that Khadi sales have grown from ₹33,000 crore in 2014-15 to ₹1.70 lakh crore in 2025, directly benefiting artisans, weavers, and women entrepreneurs. He said, “If such efforts had begun earlier, unemployment would not have persisted for 70 years.”
The event also witnessed the distribution of modern spinning wheels, sewing machines, and other artisan toolkits to 12 categories of workers, alongside disbursement of ₹301 crore in margin money. In addition, the Organic Cotton Central Wool Plant in Wardha was inaugurated, 40 modernised Khadi outlets were launched, and 8,000 new units under the Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) were established nationwide.
Linking Khadi with wider economic opportunities, Shah noted that Khadi is now being promoted not just as “Khadi for Nation” but also as “Khadi for Fashion,” with applications in beekeeping, oils, spices, and cosmetics. He stressed that profits from Khadi go directly to artisans, empowering women and strengthening rural livelihoods.
The Minister urged every Indian family to purchase at least ₹5,000 worth of Khadi annually, saying this collective step would propel the country closer to Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India). He also highlighted how Khadi supports health, local economies, and national progress.
Underscoring the connection between Swaraj, Swadeshi, and native languages, Shah said that Khadi remains central to India’s development journey. He reiterated that Modi’s vision of a fully developed India by 2047 will be strongly supported by Khadi, rural industries, and the spirit of Swadeshi.
