CHANDIGARH:With launch of khadi e-market portal Indians go vocal for local. The
Khadi and Village Industry Commission’s (KVIC) venture into the online marketing
segment has quickly established a pan-India reach enabling the artisans sell their products to
the remotest parts of India through the KVIC E-Portal - www.kviconline.gov.in/khadimask/.
The portal has evolved into a full-fledged E-market platform with 180 products as on today
and many more in the pipeline.
As per KVIC, the product range includes hand-spun and hand-woven fine fabric like
Muslin, Silk, Denim and Cotton, Unisex Vichar Vastra by Ritu Beri, Khadi’s Signature
Wrist Watch, a variety of honey, Herbal and Green Tea, Herbal Medicines and Soaps,
Papad, Kacchi Ghani Mustard Oil and a range of herbal cosmetics among many others.
KVIC is adding at least 10 new products to its online inventory on a daily basis and it has
set a target of adding at least 1000 products by October 2 this year. In less than two months’
time, KVIC has served nearly 4000 customers.
KVIC Chairman, Mr Vinai Kumar Saxena said the online sale of Khadi products
was a big push to “Swadeshi” and aimed at empowering the local artisans. “Khadi’s E-
market portal was providing the artisans an additional platform to sell their goods. This is a
concrete step towards building of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, ” Saxena said, adding the product
range is priced from Rs 50 to Rs 5000, keeping in view the choice and affordability of all
sections of buyers, says he.
“Earlier products of Khadi institutions were sold only through outlets and hence their
visibility was confined to a few states only. However, with KVIC’s E-portal, products are
now reaching to the far-flung areas of the country and thus giving wider marketing spectrum
to Khadi institutions which will ultimately increase their production and add to the income
of artisans.
Customers, too, have expressed great satisfaction over the online sale of Khadi
products. A regular Khadi customer in Delhi who used to buy products from the Khadi India
outlet in Connaught Place could not find the same products in Assam where he is posted
now. However, the E-market platform has enabled him to order his desired products online
and receive the same at his doorsteps.
It is also stated that KVIC has received online orders from 31 States and Union
Territories that include the far-flung Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh,
Kerala, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. KVIC has fixed the minimum order
value at Rs 599 for free delivery of goods. It has entered into an agreement with the Postal
Department for delivery of consignments via Speed Post.
According to KVIC, it has developed the E-portal in-house and thus saved crores
of rupees to the exchequer. The exercise is similar to the PMEGP E-portal developed in-
house by KVIC where it saved at least Rs 20 crore on website development and
maintenance.
KVIC’s online inventory also includes stitched Modi Kurta and Modi Jackets for
men and palazzo and straight trousers for women. Several other products like Khadi Rumal,
spices, herbal neem wood comb, shampoo, cosmetics, cow dung and cow urine soap, yoga
dress and several varieties of ready-to-eat food have been included so far.