New Khadi Plaza at Rajasthali Emporium in Jaipur creates a marketplace for local artisans

In a bid to create a marketplace for local weavers and artisans, Rajasthan Small Industries Corporation (Rajsico) plans to set up a new khadi plaza at Rajasthali Emporium located on MI Road. Rajsico chairman, Rajiv Arora, in a managerial meeting announced the opening of the plaza. In an attempt to attract more tourists, expert engineers and designers have been asked to remodel the emporium with the latest standards.

The idea is to bring people closer to the Khadi product and encourage them to identify locally made clothes, handicraft items and other products. The move will not only create a market for local artisans but will also ensure a professional marketing environment for such products.

As per the reports, Khadi clothes, woodcraft, terracotta, stone craft, handloom, jewellery, bamboo craft, metal craft, jute and traditional painting among other items will be displayed at the plaza. Additionally, with such products on display for sale, the participation of Khadi institutions, artisans, craftsmen and rural employment programme generation units will also increase.

The state industry department has been working for generating employment for rural youth and women by the means of training, providing a marketplace and supporting them with different state and centre-level schemes. Recently, a training programme for MNREGA workers was launched with an aim to provide them with skills in producing Khadi products.

The Khadi and handicraft industry has changed over time, with new materials and techniques in place, the art of making handicraft items has also improved, reducing the overall cost of production. This not only opens the gates of employment but also helps in the better preservation of the state's identity.