New Delhi: Indian PM Narendra Modi has launched the e-portal ‘Bhartiya Vastra evam Shilpa Kosh - A Repository of Textiles & Crafts’ to mark the National Handloom Day and said the turnover of Khadi and village industries has reached more than 1.3 lakh crore rupees in the past nine years.

Incidentally, Narendra Modi and his NDA is ruling the Centre for the past nine years since 2014.

Addressing the event at  Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi's Pragati Maidan, the Indian PM said: "The India of today is not just ‘Vocal for Local’ but also providing a global platform to take it to the world.”

Highlighting the Swadeshi Movement, the Prime Minister said that it was not only limited to boycotting foreign-made textiles but a source of inspiration for the independent economy of India.

He said that it was a movement to connect the weavers of India with the people, and this was the inspiration behind the government choosing this day as National Handloom Day.

In the last few years, the Prime Minister underlined that unprecedented work has been done for the expansion of the handloom industry as well as the weavers.

“There is a new revolution in the country about Swadeshi,” Modi said.

He expressed pride in the success of India through the achievements of its weavers.

The Prime Minister emphasized that one’s identity is related to the clothes they wear and highlighted the diverse clothing that can be seen on the occasion.

He said that it is also an occasion to celebrate India’s diversity through the clothes of different regions.

“India possesses a beautiful rainbow of clothing,” the Prime Minister said as he observed the diversity in clothing ranging from the tribal communities in far-fetched areas to people living in the snow-clad mountains, and from people in the coastal regions to those living in the desert as well as the clothing available in the markets of India.

He recalled urging the need to enlist and compile the diverse clothing of India and expressed delight that it has come to fruition today with the launch of ‘Bhartiya Vastra evam Shilpa Kosh’.

Noting that India’s textile industry was well-founded in the past centuries, the Prime Minister lamented that no concrete efforts were made to strengthen it after independence.

“Even Khadi was left in a moribund state,” he said, adding that those wearing Khadi were looked down upon.

After 2014, the Prime Minister said, the government is striving to change this circumstance and the thinking behind it.

The Prime Minister recalled urging the citizens to buy Khadi products during the early phase of the Mann Ki Baat program which resulted in more than a 3 fold rise in the production of Khadi in the last 9 years.

He also noted that the sale of Khadi clothes has increased by 5 times and its demand in foreign nations is also increasing.

Modi also recalled meeting the CEO of a huge fashion brand during his visit to Paris who informed him about the growing attraction towards Khadi and Indian handloom.

The Prime Minister said the turnover of Khadi and village industries was only around Rs 25-30 thousand crores nine years ago. but today it has reached more than one lakh thirty thousand crore rupees.

He said that the additional Rs 1 lakh crore has reached those associated with the handloom sector in the villages and the tribals.

The Prime Minister cited the Niti Aayog Report which states that 13.5 crore have come out of poverty in the last 5 years and acknowledged the contribution of the growing turnover for the same.

“With the spirit of Vocal for Local, the citizens are buying indigenous products wholeheartedly and it has become a mass movement,” Modi said.

He also reiterated the need to repeat the Swadeshi resolution to support the weavers and handicraftsmen in the upcoming festivities of Raksha Bandhan, Ganesh Utsav, Dussehra and Deepavali. 

He mentioned a scholarship up to Rs 2 lakh in textile institutes for skill training of the children of weavers.

Modi informed that more than 600 handloom clusters have been developed in the last 9 years and thousands of weavers have been trained.

“It is the constant endeavor of the government to make the weavers’ work easier, increase their productivity and improve the quality and designs," Modi said.

He said that computer-operated punching machines are also being provided to them which enables the creation of new designs at a fast pace.

“Warp-making is also becoming easier with motorized machines. Many such equipment, many such machines are being made available to the weavers,” he said.

He also mentioned that the government is providing raw materials like yarn to handloom weavers at concessional rates and also bearing the cost of transporting the raw material.

The Prime Minister also touched upon the Mudra Yojana and said that it has now become possible for weavers to get loans without guarantee.

Speaking about the GeM Portal or Government e-Marketplace, the Prime Minister said that even the smallest artisan, craftsman, or weaver can sell their goods directly to the government and informed that about 1.75 lakh organizations related to handloom and handicrafts are linked to the GeM portal today.

“Efforts are on to ensure that our brothers and sisters in the handloom sector get the benefits of Digital India,” he added.