Patna: The Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) has decided to purchase customised khadi uniform from Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) for its 4,000 men and women safai karmacharis (sanitation workers).

The decision is aimed at commemorating the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi across the nation on October 2 this year.

Sources said on June 19 PMC commissioner Anupam Kumar Suman had requested the Khadi and Village Industries Commission chairman to provide khadi uniform for its men and women sanitation workers.

Taking a note of the PMC commissioner's request, the KVIC chairman had sent some of his officials to Patna with samples to get it approved from the competent authorities in the PMC.

Surprisingly, the PMC had not only approved the samples, it also raised a demand letter on June 30 for supply of khadi uniform sets for its 4,000 men and women safai karmacharis, including 8,000 sets of shirt and pant (for men), 8,000 sets of salwar kurta (for women), 4,000 pairs of sandals, 4,000 pairs of shoes/boots and 4,000 pieces of cap by August 15 this year.

Besides, the PMC has also signed a three-year agreement with the KVIC for a regular supply of materials, including the supply of woolen khadi clothes during the winter.

"Not only that, the PMC would be signing a three-year-agreement with KVIC for supply of khadi and village industries products, preferably next week in presence of Union minister of state for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) Giriraj Singh and other dignitaries. Earlier, those karmacharis used to wear uniforms made of terry-cotton, which was not good for their health and skin," said a senior PMC official.

Khadi and Village Industries Commission chairman Vinai Kumar Saxena appeared a happy man with Gandhiji's khadi reaching in upcountry local bodies from Bihar.

"To me, it is like a fittest tribute to the father of the nation (referring to Mahatma Gandhi) ahead of his 150th birthday celebrations from Bihar - a land of Champaran from where he kicked off his journey as Mahatma - to have a unique conversion with a local self body.

The value of this order, approximately Rs 2 crore, is immaterial with respect to khadi being attire of safai karmacharis - one of the most-loved lots of Mahatma Gandhi since his Phoenix days in South Africa," he said, adding: "It is also important that khadi has started getting recognition from all corners of the nation. Not only that, the safai karmacharis are the lowest, yet most important part of the local bodies - the arch of decentralised administration."

Saxena said the KVIC has drafted an MoU in just 10 days.