Khadi board to launch app

PATNA

: The Bihar State Khadi and

Village Industries Board

(BSKVIB) is to launch a

mobile phone app

for selling

khadi products

across the country.

As most markets have been disrupted owing to the

Covid-19

pandemic, the board had launched a website, www.Biharkhadi.com, on June 18.

BSKVIB CEO Suresh Kumar said on Friday the motive behind developing the mobile app is to give local artists an online platform to sell their products. “The pandemic has completely damaged the market, including that of khadi products. The local artists are affected badly. Giving them an online platform is not just an alternative to the traditional way of marketing but will also be a morale booster,” he said.

Primarily, products of artisans and

weavers

already connected to Patna Khadi Mall will be sold online. “Many weavers and artisans weave clothes or make paintings for selling at the mall. The items will be delivered to the buyers by our courier agents. Apart from these, hundreds of small-scale weavers will also be given a chance to use this platform,” said Ramesh Chowdhary, manager of Khadi Mall in Patna.

Ramesh said a letter for approval to create the app has been sent to the industries department. “The pandemic has introduced a different kind of marketing style to the local artisans. Most people are, however, not very comfortable in shopping via website. Hence, we have planned to launch a mobile app. Several e-commerce companies are making good business with their apps,” he said.

“As far as the website is concerned, tens of hundreds of people have purchased products from the online platform and the most sought-after items are masks, shirts and ‘murabba’. Besides, people from across the country, including Delhi and Mumbai, are purchasing khadi products and

Bihari

food items. With the launch of the application, we are sure the sales will quadruple,” Ramesh added.

Asked if new weavers or artisans could register themselves for the application, he said they should either have Udyog Aadhaar or should be registered with the industries department in order to sell their products.


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