New Delhi: Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Bihar Minister of Industries Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, said that the central government has provided maximum assistance to weavers and people associated with khadi industry during Covid-19 pandemic. He also said that khadi is not only a piece of garment for the party but an idea, an ideology that is associated with Gandhiji and leaders of the party have always respected khadi.
In a conversation with ETV Bharat's senior correspondent Anamika Ratna, Hussain said that industrialists in Bihar have expressed their desire to set up khadi industries which will create job opportunities in the state. He also said that the Bihar government will be organising an exhibition in Patna on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti on October 2 to promote the khadi culture in the country. He added that he has written to all MLA's in the state to join the exhibition, which will further help in its promotion.
Taking about the promotion of the khadi in India, Hussian said that while most of the parties remember Gandhiji and khadi only on October 2, the BJP works on promoting the ideas of Gandhiji and khadi throughout the year. He also said that the relation between Bihar with Gandhiji and khadi is very old.
When asked about the employment opportunities for the migrant labours who returned home following the pandemic, Hussain said that the government of Bihar and the ministry of Industries is coming up with new textile policies for the state. This move comes after it was found that among the migrant labourers who returned home, 56 per cent were associated with the textile industry. An investment of Rs35,000 crores was done during the pandemic, which will be helpful in providing financial assistance and employment opportunities to the labourers in Bihar.
Responding to the question whether Bihar will become the industries hub in the coming years, Hussain said that every effort is for the same. He also said that he met various chief ministers, businessmen and industrialists who expressed their desire to invest in Bihar and even during Covid, a large number of people have invested in the state, which is a sign of Bihar's progress.