The state government has decided to set up a dedicated Khadi Bhavan, a one-of-its-kind Khadi Haat and a Gandhi National Museum in the city to promote khadi industry in the state.

All these will come up on the premises of Odisha Khadi and Village Board situated at Kharavela Nagar.

“The plan is to promote khadi industry and provide budding entrepreneurs with an opportunity,” said a Khadi board official. To execute the plan, the board has reached out to the public works department for getting the conceptual design for the bhavan, the haat and the museum. “We have written to the executive engineer of the department for getting the plan,” said the official.

The Khadi Bhavan will facilitate training in the khadi industry of the state while Khadi Haat will give opportunity to the young entrepreneurs to display their products at a centralised market.

Gandhi National Museum, on the other hand, will be developed on the lines of the one already existing in New Delhi. The National Gandhi Museum in New Delhi has a rich collection of books, photographs and art pieces on Mahatma Gandhi. The central government has for the first time set up the country’s first dedicated Khadi Haat at Connaught Place in New Delhi on the 69th Republic Day this year.

“We have planned an array of things to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in the state. The Khadi Bhavan, Khadi Haat and the museum is also a part of it. We are hopeful to begin the execution as soon as possible,” said another official of the board.

Gandhians welcomed the move of the government. “Khadi is closely associated with Mahatma Gandhi. He always promoted the use of khadi among the masses,” said Krisna Chandra Rath, an octogenarian.