Odisha and Karnataka join Hands for Khadi, Village Industries

Odisha Khadi & Village Industries Board President Tejeswar Parida returned from Bengaluru yesterday evening after accomplishing his 3 days visit (30 January 2015 to 1 February 2015) on Mission Karnataka for all round co-ordination between the two states for development of Khadi & Village industries.

Karnataka being one of the most successful states, Odisha Board President accompanied by the OK&VIB Secretary Sr. Remish Kerketta visited the South Indian state in a mission mode to seek long term co-operation from Karnataka Khadi & Village Industries Board in knowledge & technology transfer, sharing of advance know-how, introduction and implementation of employment generation village industries schemes, revival & growth of Khadi institutions, production and marketing of cotton and silk Khadi and creation of extension employment opportunities for unemployed youth and SHG women.

Sri. Parida had a round table meeting with his Karnataka counterpart Sri. Laxmanrao A. Chingale on 31st January 2015, besides OK&VIB Secretary Sri. Kerketta, Karnataka KVIB CEO Sri. H.V, Raghavam and senior officers of Karnataka Board took part in the deliberation.

“The three hours long meeting was a grand success in bringing forth the two states very close” asserts Odisha Board President Sri. Parida. “It shall create enough scope for facilitating marketing potentials for Odisha cotton & Silk Khadi in major Karnataka cities like Bengaluru, Mangalore and Myosre as the two states have agreed for the marketing tie-up between OK&VIB and KKVIB’s department sales out let”.

The Karnataka KVIB has assured to provide all possible co-operations to Odisha Board for development Khadi & Village Industries in Odisha especially in tribal dominated and Maoist affected districts, Sri. Parida states recalling gratefully how the Karnataka Board had sent 3 truck full of Khadi cloths to Odisha in 1999 for the super cyclone stricken people of the state.

During his visit to Karnatka the Odisha Board President met eminent Gandhian leader and President of All India Freedom Fighters Samity Sri. N.R.Mathad and requested him to organize Gandhian Economy based residential camps to create awareness on Khadi Village Industries and Entrepreneurship in the left wing extremists affected tribal districts of Odisha. Sri. Parida also did meet and discuss with two eminent Odia Fashion Designers Sujit Meher of Kalahandi and Sanjat Mishra of Bolangir, who have earned outstanding reputations to Khadi dress designing. Both of them also were introduced to Karnataka Khadi and Village Industries Board.

Sri. Parida during his visit had a meeting with members and office bearers of Odisha Culture Association formed by eminent Odias residing at Bangaluru headed by Susan Mahapatra, DGP, Karnataka. The Odisha Board President called upon them to extend co-operation in providing entrepreneurship and skill development training to unemployed Odia tribal youth, women, in tribal dominated Maoist affected districts of south, west and north Odisha, he said to them that very soon OK&VIB would hold consultation campaigns to which eminent non-resident Odia economists, Information Technology and Management professional, Academicians and Scribes would be invited.

Board President and Secretary also visited the National Level Exhibition at Freedom Park, Bangaluru on 31 January 2015. Entrepreneur from different states have been invited to the National Level Khadi & Village Industries Exhibition to be organized in Bhubaneswar in the last week of February 2015, which will be first ever National Level Khadi Exhibition in Odisha.