Today is Quit India Day, and as we pay homage to the memory of those great men and women who led us from the bondage to freedom ,it is appropriate that we recall the continuing relevance to our times of great themes of the freedom movement.

One of these was a Swadeshi ,the symbol was Khadi .Khadi was the thread that united the people of different communities, classes and regions throughout the country into the fabric of resistance to foreign rule .In his early writings on this subject ,Gandhiji wrote :"Swaraj has no meaning ,for the millions unless they are given the means to employ Their enforced idleness" .And a quarter century later, in one of this articles on the subject in the Harijan of 29th June 1947,Gandhiji said"The center of swadeshi lies in Khadi".

Sir,it is a tragic betrayal of the high ideals of our struggle for independence.On This auspicious day on the memorable milestone of that movement we should be struggling to preserve for Khadi and Village industries their rightful place in the emerging ethos of nation's changing economic policies .It was in recognition of the special problem of this sector that in1993 , within two years of the commencement of economic reforms , a High Powered Committee was established by the Congress government under the chairmanship of the Prime minister himself. It's recommendations were subsequently translated into an Action Plan ,Rs 5700 crore was released to the sector with a view to creating 20 lakh new jobs within three years. It is a signal achievement ot the Action that well over 6.5 lakh jobs a year was created besides breathing new life into a dying sector.Khadi output virtually doubled in just 36 months .Tragically ,the action drive now stands neglected.

Budgetary support to khadi and village industries has been sharply reduced. Assistances from the banking consortium has dried up.additional burdens ,such as sales tax are being unthinkingly levied on an industry ,which cannot support the burden. The proposals for boosting export oriented khadi appear to have been shelved. The original certification schems has been abandoned and no satisfactory alternatively put in place.

Where nationalized banks were to have a special cell to monitor credit flow to the Khadi and village industries sector, the banks are showing themselves heartless ,whatever the formal instructions might be regarding this sector as a priority sector.As for policy,ever since the Action Plan was abandoned ,Khadi and village industries have been floundering in a miasma of uncertainity .To ensure the good health of this sector ,The action plan needs to be dusted off ,updated and rejuvenated in the light of of the experienced gained.

The Action Plan commitment to a third of the sector's financial requirements requirements being met through the budgetary support must be respected. There must be transparency and predictability in the rebate policy .It should be complemented by a well though out scheme of marketing development assistance.the financial requirements of the sector need urgent attention.The financial requirements of the sector needs urgent attention .This is without any doubt a priority sector.Therefore,our nationalized banks must be sensitized by Ggovernment concern.Welfare schemes for the artisans need to be evolved the implemented with all deliberated speed.SO WITH INSURANCE SCHEMES.Rural entrepreunership should be given every encouragement .The KVIC's National Programmes Such as those for beekeeping ,leather ,handmade ,paper and pottery-must be reviewed.

Quality and design require utmost attention .so do skills upgradation ,improved tools ,and better quality raw materials. Moreover ,it is imperative that the Khadi and Village Industries Board be urgently reconstituted including the nominations of Khadi experts and activists as provided fir in the 1955 Act. There is hardly any sector of industry which can match the Khadi and village Industries sector in the generation of employement for the poorest of the poor.we have assiduously nurtured this sector through the first fifty years of freedom.well over half a crore of employees earn their livelihood from Khadi alone.The value of our Khadi output has soured from under Rs.20 crore at Independemnce to over Rs.5000 crore at present.

In a country such as ours ,sophisticated capital intensive manufacture and information technology related industry are no substitute for employment through the spinning wheel and potters wheel..I urge the government and PRIME minister in particular to resp[ond to the plight of an industry whose genesis lay in the Freedom Movement ,and which is providing economic support and livelihood to million of our countrymen who are still financially weak.Gandhiji always linked this sector with the oppressed ,with Dadranarayana .Let us in Gandhiji's spirit ,pledge ourselves to revitalize khadi which as he rightly perceived is the very soul and substance of our culture .