AHMEDABAD: When Mahatma Gandhi promoted the use of khadi for cottage industries of India, little did he imagine that workers of this industry would have to openly rebel for being meted out step-motherly treatment by the government.
The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has not paid the 20% rebate on the production value of khadi to several khadi institutions for two years in a row, claim representatives of these bodies. For Gujarat, the unpaid rebate amounts to Rs 40 crore, while it is Rs 600 crore for India.
Holding a discussion on the issue, 150 representatives of khadi institutions across the country met in Gandhi Ashram, Ahmedabad to discuss the way forward. They have decided to start an unofficial protest wherein they will not implement any decisions taken by the KVIC and will soon cut all ties with it.
Rajasthan Khadi Sangh vice-chairman Ramdas Sharma said, "The manufacturers are facing problem due to liquidity crunch as the government is not paying the rebate regularly. We have given the government a deadline of October 2 to meet the demands and if the government does not budge then we would be holding a demonstration at Rajghat in New Delhi from November 14."
"Of the 20% rebate we receive, 5% is given to the weaver, 6% is spent on the further development of the sangh and 9% is given as discount to consumers. How are we supposed to work without our dues?" said Manubhai Mehta, president, Gujarat Rajya Khadi Gramodyog Sangh. Mehta added that they were being ill-treated by KVIC. "We are being treated as bonded labour. Our requests to get unpaid dues have gone in vain. It is sad to note that this rebate that had started during Nehru's governance is not being given to us now," he said. TOI
No comments:
Post a Comment