- Over 120 Stalls Showcase Unique Khadi and Handicraft Products, E-Commerce Links to Expand Market Reach
- Encouraging Self-Employment, Tools Distributed to Beneficiaries
- Uttar Pradesh Moving Towards Self-Reliance with Khadi
- Outstanding Entrepreneurs Honored at Mandal Level
Lucknow: The Mandal-Level Khadi and Village Industries Expo-2025 was inaugurated at the Central Sanskrit University campus in Gomtinagar, Lucknow. The 15-day exhibition (from 27th January to 10th February 2025) is being organized by the Uttar Pradesh Khadi and Village Industries Board, Lucknow. The opening ceremony was graced by Rakesh Sachan, the Minister for Khadi and Village Industries, Small and Medium Enterprises, Silk Industry, and Textile Industry, who inaugurated the event by cutting the ribbon. Minister Sachan also paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi’s statue, reaffirming his commitment to promoting Khadi and village industries.
Minister’s Address: Promoting Khadi and Village Industries
In his speech, Minister Rakesh Sachan emphasized the government’s continuous efforts to ensure the reach and quality of Khadi and Village Industries products. He shared that in the year 2023-24, the Khadi and Village Industries sector provided employment to 390,267 individuals, marking a 21% increase from the previous year. In the current financial year, 66,640 youth have been offered employment and toolkits for self-employment. The government is also connecting Khadi with modern technologies to attract the younger generation, with prestigious institutions like NIFT (National Institute of Fashion Technology) collaborating on designing Khadi garments.
To promote sales, the government is integrating Khadi and Village Industries products with e-commerce platforms such as Flipkart and Amazon, enabling entrepreneurs to access broader markets.
Board CEO Dr. Ujjwal Kumar’s Remarks
At the conclusion of the event, Dr. Ujjwal Kumar, CEO of the Khadi and Village Industries Board, thanked everyone for their participation. He reiterated the Board’s commitment to making Khadi products accessible to the public, ensuring high quality, and generating maximum employment with minimal capital investment.
A Diverse Range of Exhibits
This year, exhibitions will be held in 18 divisions across the state. In the Lucknow division, over 120 stalls have been set up, showcasing unique products from Uttar Pradesh as well as other states such as Maharashtra, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Rajasthan. Visitors can explore Saharanpur’s carved furniture, Bhadohi carpets, Kannauj clay pottery, Pratapgarh’s Amla Murabba, Kanpur handicrafts, Amroha chaddars, Sitapur towels and rugs, Unnao bakery products and jackets, Mau curtains, Lucknow’s pure royal honey, Banarasi silk sarees, Bikaner papads and snacks, Uttarakhand woolen products, and handicrafts from Gujarat and Rajasthan.
Awards and Recognition for Entrepreneurs
During the event, outstanding entrepreneurs at the Mandal level were recognized with awards and certificates. Shaheen Bano from Sitapur received the first prize (₹15,000), Ashutosh from Unnao won the second prize (₹12,000), and Satyam from Rae Bareli was awarded the third prize (₹10,000).
Additionally, six beneficiaries from Lucknow were provided with tools to help them start self-employment ventures. These included Vijay Lakshmi and Anil Kumar, who received dona patta making machines, Kalawati and Lakshmi Devi, who received popcorn machines, and Liaquat Ali and Noor Alam, who were provided electric pottery wheels.
Dignitaries in Attendance
The event was attended by several senior officials, including Anil Kumar Sagar, Principal Secretary of the Khadi and Village Industries Department, Dr. Ujjwal Kumar, CEO of the Khadi and Village Industries Board, Siddharth Yadav, Joint CEO, and Mahendra Pratap, Deputy CEO.
The exhibition marks a significant step towards promoting Khadi, supporting local entrepreneurship, and moving Uttar Pradesh towards greater self-reliance.
