Indian Government has launched a scheme called Khadi Mark, in an attempt to ensure the genuinity of Khadi Garments and other products. Â Similar to Hallmark that authenticates gold, Khadi Mark will guarantee genuine Khadi, hand woven, hand spun and natural fibre.
The President of India, Â Pranab Mukherjee today launched the Khadi Mark at a function at New Delhi . The Mark is expected to provide a much needed identity to the Khadi as an assurance of purity and genuineness to customers to boost its sale, as a part of the ongoing reform measures in the sector to re-invest it in keeping with the changing time.
With the introduction of Khadi Mark, no textile can be sold or otherwise traded by any person or institution as Khadi or Khadi product in any form or manner without it bearing a Khadi Mark tag, sticker or label.
The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises notified the Khadi Mark Regulations 2013 in the Gazette of India on 22 July 2013 to ensure the genuineness of Khadi i.e. hand spun and hand woven, containing natural fibers (cotton/wool/silk), produced in India. KVIC is the Nodal Agency to monitor, verify and enforce the genuineness of products being sold as Khadi.
Speaking at the occasion the President said that he was pleased to launch the Khadi Mark. The word, ‘Khadi’, has a deep emotional connect with every Indian. It has distinction of being the only cloth used in making our National Flag. It conjures up feelings of national pride. It is one of the most valued contributors of our national heritage.
Khadi has an admirable history behind it. It is synonymous with our freedom struggle. Both as a symbol of self reliance and a credible instrument for rejuvenation of the rural sector, Khadi instantly brings to our minds its profound association with Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of this nation.