Nirmala Sitharaman lays foundation stone for Khadi workers' shed in Andhra village

Gallery

MORE...

Sports

Hockey India names Amir Ali-led 20-man team for Junior Asia Cup

Hockey India on Monday announced the 20-member squad for the Men's Junior Asia Cup, a qual

Harmanpreet Singh named FIH Player of the Year, PR Sreejesh gets best goalkeeper award

World Boxing medallist Gaurav Bidhuri to flag off 'Delhi Against Drugs' movement on Nov 17

U23 World Wrestling Championship: Chirag Chikkara wins gold as India end campaign with nine medals

FIFA president Infantino confirms at least 9 African teams for the 2026 World Cup

Hockey, cricket, wrestling, badminton, squash axed from 2026 CWG in Glasgow

MORE...

Nirmala Sitharaman lays foundation stone for Khadi workers' shed in Andhra village

Last Updated : 07 Aug 2021 03:42:58 PM IST

Nirmala Sitharaman lays foundation stone for Khadi workers

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday laid the foundation stone for a mass shed for Khadi workers at Ponduru village in Andhra Pradesh's Srikakulam district.

She also handed over a cheque for Rs 18 lakh to the Andhra Fine Khadi Karimikabhivrudhi (AFKK) Sangham, Ponduru, said a statement issued by her office.

Sitharaman handed over the contract document for the new building to the khadi workers association coinciding with the National Handloom Day.

The Finance Minister is on a two-day visit to the southern state and attended a programme organized by AFKK.

During her visit, Sitharaman garlanded a statue of Mahatma Gandhi.

Ponduru's location has an interesting connection with Gandhi, considering his halt at Dusi railway station which is just 10 km away from the village during his Dandi March as part of India's freedom struggle.

"On his Dandi March, Gandhiji had stopped at Dusi railway station, just 10 km away from Ponduru, to inspect the khadi work done there, which is renowned across the country," said the statement.

Mahatma Gandhi also sent his son Devdas to the village to study khadi work.

"After staying for a week, he conveyed to Gandhiji how the women in the region spun on the single spindle chakra, a tradition that is still being followed in the area, one of the few areas to do so," said the statement.

Meanwhile, multiple delegations, including Crafts Council of Andhra Pradesh, Laghu Udyog Bharti, Federation of Andhra Pradesh State Weavers Association and General Insurance Pensioners Association called on Sitharaman.

Bharatiya Janata Party Rajya Sabha MP G.V.L. Narasimha Rao and state Finance Minister Buggana Rajendranath Reddy were also present with her.