New Delhi: Strengthening the New Khadi for New India movement, the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) distributed 2,050 bee boxes, honey colonies, and toolkits to 205 beekeepers across six states. The initiative, part of the Honey Mission, was conducted via video conference from KVIC’s Rajghat office in Delhi and led by KVIC Chairman Manoj Kumar.
Addressing the beneficiaries, Manoj Kumar emphasized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a Sweet Revolution, launched alongside the White Revolution in 2016 from Deesa, Gujarat. Under the Honey Mission, initiated in 2017, KVIC has distributed over 2 lakh bee boxes to more than 20,000 beneficiaries, enhancing income opportunities for rural communities. Kumar highlighted that beekeeping not only provides honey but also generates high-demand bee wax, widely used in pharmaceuticals, food, textiles, and cosmetics. Encouraging farmers to integrate beekeeping with agriculture, he noted that this practice boosts income and supports India’s self-reliance in honey production.
The distribution covered multiple states, with beekeepers from Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, West Bengal, Goa, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha receiving the equipment. Notably, 400 bee boxes were distributed in Tikamgarh, Madhya Pradesh, while Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, saw 1,050 distributions across different locations. Other districts, including Patan in Gujarat, South 24 Parganas in West Bengal, and Nayagarh in Odisha, also benefitted from the initiative.
Manoj Kumar also shared the success of the Khadi Revolution, citing the record-breaking ₹12.02 crore sales at the Prayagraj Mahakumbh exhibition held from January 14 to February 27, 2025. He noted that the event featured 98 Khadi stalls and 54 village industry stalls, generating ₹9.76 crore in Khadi sales and ₹2.26 crore from village industries.
Reflecting on the growth of the Khadi sector over the last decade, Kumar stated that sales have increased fivefold, from ₹31,000 crore to ₹1,55,000 crore. The demand for Khadi garments alone has surged six times, reaching ₹6,496 crore. Employment in the sector has also expanded, with 10.17 lakh jobs created in the past financial year, and the income of Khadi artisans rising by 213%. Over 80% of these employment opportunities have benefited women, further empowering rural communities.
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