Visit of Officers of District Industries Centre, Wardha

 Visit of Officers of District Industries Centre, Wardha 

Shri Kamleshkumar Jain , In charge  General Manager, District Industries Centre, Wardha( Industries Officer )and Shri Sushil Garud, Deputy Director of Industries, DIC, Wardha visited Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan on July 20, 2023. Dr. Siby K. Joseph Director of Library and Research Centre, Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan  welcomed them in the administrative office of the centre. Dr. Siby Joseph  explained how Khadi became the central theme of the district  after the arrival of Mahatma Gandhi in 1933-34.   He discussed with them the historical context starting with establishment of All India Village Industries Association in 1934, establishment of Sevagram Ashram 1936, Basic Education  Scheme of 1937 with craft as the centre and pivot of all educational activities,  establishment first Khadi and village industries museum in 1938 at Maganvadi premises, Wardha  and so on.

He also explained how Khadi is interwoven in the training programmes /camps  ashram organises for university students at the regional and national level and for people from different walks of life.  In addition Ashram provides internship facilities for students in Cotton to Cloth workshop of Khadi Unit of the Ashram, Continuous  spinning for 12 hours on Gandhi Jayanti day, Gandhi's martyrdom,and such similar occasions,  National workshop  to review the problems faced by Khadi sector, representations, resolutions and campaigns relating to Khadi  and other programmes.  Also he brought  their attention to a number of articles  related to Khadi sector prepared by the Library and Research Centre of Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan. 

The team visited the newly inaugurated  portrait exhibition of of Gandhi at the Research Centre. Charkha is also one  of the themes of portraits of  Gandhi . 

In the afternoon, they visited the ashram premises. They visited spinning and weaving section of the Ashram. Shri Prashant,in charge of the section , explained briefly  the   various proccess involved starting from cotton farming to  production of Khadi clothes.  Labour intensive  organic eco-friendly methods are used in the whole production process . Even solar energy is not used in the whole process .They carefully observed the spinning and weaving process in the workshop.

The  team also interacted with Mrs.Sangita Chauhan guide of the Ashram  to understand the Vastra Savalamban idea promoted by the Ashram so that the resident members and other  can achieve self sufficiency in clothing without depending on market.The team thanked Director of the Centre and members of the Ashram for facilitating the visit.

This visit and  discussion was in the context of considering Khadi as the main product of the District of Wardha. Sevagram Ashram is one of the important stakeholders in the production and propagation of Khadi.