The Khadi Development and Village Industries Commission has certified the khadi unit of Karnataka Khadi Gramodyoga Samyukta Sangha as the sole manufacturer and supplier of the Indian flag. There are 100 specialist spinners and 100 weavers employed in making the flag. The cloth is sourced from KKGSS’s unit in Bagalkot and divided into three lots, each of which is dyed with one of the three colours in the Indian flag. The cloth is then cut in the required size and shape and the blue chakra with 24 equally spaced spokes is printed on the white cloth. Finally, the three pieces are stitched together to make the Indian flag.
KKGSS was founded on November 1, 1957, by a group of Gandhians who came together to create a federation for the growth of khadi and other village industries in the region. Venkatesh T Magadi and Sriranga Kamat were chosen as the first Chairman and Vice-Chairman respectively.
Soon after its establishment, about 58 institutions around Karnataka were brought under the aegis of the KKGSS and the federation started functioning with Hubli as the head office. The head office is spread across 17 acres and along with the manufacturing facilities, it also houses a training college to train students in textile chemistry.
Even though the production of khadi began in the year 1982, the flag manufacturing unit only started operations in 2004.
The founders fought for the flag facility to be established at the KKGSS for the benefit of the economically-backward classes who lived around the area. Today, over 100 specialist spinners and weavers are employed in making the flag, says Nagaveni Kalwad, Manager-Flag Section, KKGSS.
Credit : SMB Story
Picture Credit : Google
