In a bid to revive the Khadi and Village Industries ecosystem in the capital, the 54th board meeting of the Delhi Khadi and Village Industries Board (DKVIB) was convened here today. The meeting, which was held after a gap of four years, was chaired by Delhi Minister for Environment and Industries Manjinder Singh Sirsa.
In collaboration with DSIIDC, the Board decided in favour of the creation of a grand Emporio in Connaught Place, envisioned as a “one-stop destination” where nearly 650 GI-tagged products from across India will be curated and showcased for sale, enabling both Indian and global buyers to experience the country’s traditional craftsmanship under one roof.
“The previous government completely ignored this legacy as their priorities were misplaced. They would visit Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial every year to pay homage, yet forgot his dream of empowering Khadi,” Sirsa said, adding, “For four years, not a single board meeting of DKVIB was held. Today, we’ve revived that lost tradition and are setting the foundation for its new journey.”
The board also decided in favour of the appointment of legal consultants to draft a new DKVIB Act and Rules, aimed at strengthening the institutional and administrative framework of the Board.
Seventeen agenda points were discussed in detail, covering skill enhancement schemes for cottage industries, financial support for artisans, and the creation of a common marketing platform for Swadeshi products.
Notably, the Delhi Government has allocated ₹50 crore in this year’s budget to boost artisan training, skilling, funding, and marketing support through DKVIB.
“Our artisans have immense talent but lack the means and market access to sell what they create. DKVIB will bridge that gap—helping them scale their work, access funding, and connect directly to buyers,” Sirsa added further.
Senior officials also stated that the process to secure GI tagging for three traditional Delhi-based products has already begun.