Hubli: The demand for national flags has increased slightly this time at Karnataka Khadi Grama Samyukta Samsthe (KKGSS) in Bengeri. After Covid-19 second wave, the firm's turnover is slowly returning to normal. On August 15, as part of Independence Day celebrations, various flags of various sizes were sold for Rs 92 lakh. Last year, Covid created many problems. So, this organisation struggled to pay salaries to its workers but is now slowly returning to its normal position.
The KKGSS is the only organization accredited by the Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) for producing the national flag. In normal times, the organisation sees more than Rs 2 crores in annual revenues. But last year, the revenue dropped to just Rs 56 lakh. However, the organisation is now seeing a little recovery. There is a high demand for national flags from Delhi and Gujarat as schools are starting and Government Departments have placed orders for flags in view of August 15. So the demand has also increased.
Also read: Demand soars for purchase of agricultural land in Karnataka
Leading the pack among states, Delhi and Gujarat, have bought the highest number of flags worth Rs 20 lakh. The flag is supplied from the Khadi repository in Delhi to the Parliament and the Embassies of India abroad.
The demand has come from various states including Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Punjab, Bihar, Haryana, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Sikkim and Chhattisgarh. Collectively, the company's flag turnover is on its way to recovery after Covid pandemic.
In the fiscal year 2021–22, there has been a turnover of Rs 92 lakh so far. On August 15, 2022, India is going to celebrate 75 years of its Independence. With the central and state governments especially celebrating the occasion, there will be high demand for the tricolour.
The flag is manufactured by the khadi unit of KKGSS. The Khadi and Village Industries Commission has certified KKGSS as the sole manufacturer and supplier of the Indian flag to the entire country. There are 100 specialist spinners and 100 weavers employed in making the flag. The cloth needed for the flag is sourced from KKGSS's unit in Bagalkot and divided into three lots, each of the lots to be dyed with one of the three major colors in the Indian flag. After dyeing, the cloth is cut in the required size and shape and the blue chakra (wheel) with 24 equally spaced spokes is printed on the white cloth. Finally, the three pieces are stitched together to make the Indian flag.
Also read: Karnataka first state to implement National Education Policy-2020
About 60 Japanese sewing machines are used to maintain precision while stitching. Some of the critical confirmation criteria include that the width and length of the entire flag should be in the ratio 3:2 and that the chakra needs to be printed on both sides of the flag with both of these prints perfectly matched, like two hands joined palm to palm. Each lot shipped is subjected to an inspection by BIS and any issue with a single flag could result in the whole lot being rejected. The flags are manufactured in nine sizes, with the smallest one being 6x4 inches (150 X 100 mm) and the biggest one being 21 X 14 feet (6,300 X 4,200 mm).
KKGSS was founded on November 1, 1957 with the goal of creating a federation that catered to the need for the growth of khadi and other village industries. Another aim of the federation was to provide employment opportunities to the rural youth in these sectors.
