Bhubaneswar, Feb. 26: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik today launched the official website of the Odisha Khadi and Village Industries Board.
The website will contain all recent developments taking place in the organisation and the upcoming projects to be initiated for developing khadi and activities of the village industries in the state.
The website was launched at the first national-level khadi exhibition that started on the board premises today.
The authorities said the website would be helpful for the people. "It is user-friendly and contains necessary information for citizens. Visitors can know about various types of apparels and village products manufactured from the state as well as the places where these could be available," said board president Tejeswar Parida.
The chief minister said a special employment generation programme would be started where every year around 30,000 people will get livelihood opportunity through the khadi and village industry board. Focus will be on generating more workers from the Maoist affected areas.
Around 200 kiosks have been set up at the fair showcasing khadi apparel made of fabrics such as cotton, linen, tussar and silk, along with cottage-industry products, from across the country. A number of handicraft items made of bamboo, horn art, straw art, brass fish and woodcarving are also available.
Weavers and craftsmen from 20 states across the country and around 15 districts in the state are taking part in the fair. One of the highlights is the series of demonstration stalls that have been set up. Here skilled craftsmen are demonstrating the process of making various art works such as bamboo crafts, dokra and terracotta.
A few women weavers are effortlessly moving their hands on the eight-spindle charkhas that the board has recently procured. "The machines are quite advanced and minimises workload. The functioning of these are not known to many, hence the process of demonstration would amuse them," said Rama Routray, a weaver from a village in Khurdha district.
The board had conducted a state-level khadi fair in December that had witnessed more than five lakh visitors and recorded a business of around Rs 2.1 crore. "We are expecting a bigger turnout than last time as the number of products are more, and there are collections from various parts of the country," said Parida. The fair concludes on March 18.
