Civil Supplies Minister P. Thilothaman said here on Saturday that the State was trying to get rid of the 5% tax under the new Goods and Services Tax regime on khadi products.
He was speaking at the inauguration of the Onam-Bakrid Khadi Festival in the city on Saturday. The Minister said the State must achieve capabilities for producing excellent quality khadi products in the State. High quality khadi products were now being imported into the State.
He recalled that the famous khadi products in India came under severe pressure during the time of the British rule. Even today, khadi workers are paid low wages. However, Kerala is the only State that ensures the payment of the minimum wages to workers in this sector, he said.
The State government is taking steps to strengthen the khadi sector.
The decision to provide schoolchildren with khadi products was one such step, Mr. Thilothaman pointed out.
The Minister also said that despite it being a big area of employment, the silk rearing stations in Kottayam and Cherthala could not survive.
These conditions must change and products should be encouraged, he said.
