Khadi, handloom empowering poor: Modi

New Delhi:Khadi and handloom are transforming and empowering the poor by bringing positive and qualitative changes in their lives, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday.

From the days of 'Khadi for Nation', India first saw 'Khadi for Fashion' and now the country was moving towards 'Khadi for transformation', Modi said in his monthly radio broadcast 'Mann Ki Baat'.

"Khadi and handloom have transformed the lives of the poorest of the poor and are emerging as a powerful means of empowering them. It is playing a very important role for Gramodaya."

He said that compared to last year, the total sales of Khadi and handicrafts increased by almost 90 per cent.

"On Gandhi Jayanti, I have always advocated the use of khadi and handloom. What has it led to? You will be glad to know that on the 17th of this month on the day of Dhanteras, the Khadi Gramodyog Bhavan store in Delhi witnessed a record sale of Rs 1 crore," Modi said.

He said that during Diwali, the sale of Khadi gift coupons zoomed by around 680 per cent.

"One can clearly see that today, the youth, the elderly, women, in fact every age group is taking to Khadi and handloom.

"I can imagine how many weaver families, poor families and the families working on handloom must have benefited from this."