Question : KHADI INSTITUTIONS

(a) whether the Government has conducted any study to enhance the quality of the Khadi industries in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the total number of Khadi institutions operational in the country during the last three years;

(d) whether the number of Khadi institutions is reducing day by day;

(e) if so, the details and reasons therefor;

(f) whether the Government has any plan to wind up any unit/institutions in the Khadi sector and if so, the details thereof; and

(g) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to increase the demand of Khadi in order to increase its production?

MINISTER OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SHRI VIRBHADRA SINGH)

(a) Yes, Madam.

(b) Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), a statutory body under the administrative control of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, conducted a study through Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), New Delhi on quality assurance norms for khadi. Inter alia based on the study, KVIC devised and circulated quality assurance norms to ensure availability of uniform quality of khadi at sales outlets run by khadi institutions.

(c): As per data maintained by KVIC, the total number of khadi institutions operational in the country during the last three years is as below:

Sr. No.	Year	Number of Khadi institutions

1.	2008-09	1958

2.	2009-10	2065

3.	2010-11	2220