NEW DELHI: The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) today revived its defunct training centre in Pampore district of Jammu and Kashmir which was destroyed decades ago during the peak of the militancy.
The occasion was marked by the installation of a statue of Mahatma Gandhi who in 1947 had visited the Pampore site, about 16 kms from Srinagar, and sat under a Chinaar tree to impart Charkha and loom training.
“We have revived the multi-disciplinary training centre in Pampore which was destroyed during peak of militancy in 1990s by installing solar charkhas and looms to spread Narendra Modi government’s message of peace,” KVIC Chairman V K Saxena said.
He said the KVIC will spread the message of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who on Independence Day resolved to reach out to the people of Jammu and Kashmir by embracing one another and not through “goli aur gaali” (guns and abuses).
The KVIC chief said Pampore has special significance as Mahatma Gandhi had on August 2, 1947, visited the place for three days and sat near a Chinaar tree there to give training of Charkha and loom making.
“The massive Chinaar tree is still there,” he said, adding that the KVIC training centre was built at the same site.
Saxena said that within six months, the commission will complete the training of the programme and set up a Khadi India outlet at the same venue.
He said that in the ceremony today, which was also attended by Jammu and Kashmir Industries and Commerce Minister Chander Prakash Ganga, a solar charkha was installed for the first time in the state.
Saxena said the one month training programme on using the solar charkha for stitching and weaving would be linked with the Prime Minister’s Gramin Awas Yojana.
“We have revived the training centre. 100 honey bee boxes have been established, charkhas set up and stitching and weaving work has begun. Poeple are very happy as after a long time there was a congregation of people,” he said. (AGENCIES)
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