NEW DELHI, INDIA, October 4, 2008: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is lending $150 million to India to help revitalize the khadi industry, which has suffered from poor production and marketing techniques. A $2 million grant will also be provided by the Japan Special Fund to support the implementation and monitor the progress of the loan-funded reform package.
Increased production of the widely-revered handspun and handwoven cloth is expected to bolster employment opportunities in India, particularly in the rural areas which account for 73 per cent of the country’s poor. The 11th Plan document has laid great stress on khadi production, mainly due to its employment prospects for women and minorities.