From rxpgnews.com
Raje models khadi sari at Rajasthan fashion show
By Indo Asian News Service,
Nov 20, 2006 - 12:37:11 AM
Jaipur, Nov 19 (IANS) Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje walked the ramp for a second time to showcase a khadi - spun cotton - collection by an international designer at a fashion show here.
Raje, who had walked the ramp in October in Banglore to promote weavers' products, joined model-turned-actor Rahul Dev late Saturday in a red khadi sari with a black border.
The main opposition Congress had flayed Raje for flaunting her royalty at the Bangalore fashion event while poor farmers awaited government relief. The criticism, however, did not stop the chief minister from a second ramp round.
'Let me tell you, if I have to walk the ramp for all of them, and if it means the difference for development and poverty for them, then I will do it for them,' Raje said of the show, which was part of the state government's plan to popularise khadi.
Having worked with different local weavers, international designer Bibi Russell showcased her new khadi designs and other innovations designed to bring khadi back into the limelight.
These creations will also be displayed at Jawahar Kala Kendra here. The state government has said the fashion event was organised to hike khadi sales at both domestic and international levels by 20 to 30 percent.
A Rs.55-million promotional programme is also planned to give a fillip to this humble fabric. The need to give khadi a leg-up followed the registering of a downward trend in its production.
In 1996-97, the state produced khadi worth Rs.400 million and as many as 100,000 weavers or their associates were involved in the production. However, 2005-06 witnessed a slump in production to Rs.280 million and a decrease in the number of weavers and their associates to a mere 60,000.
The Khadi and Gramudyog Board is also ready with a plan to improve the quality and sales of woollen and cotton khadi fabrics.
'The board will contact various state-of-the-art fashion design institutions, design consultants and marketing specialists,' a Khadi Board official said.
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