The Jharkhand State Khadi and Gramodyog Board has started manufacturing rakhis made of waste silk threads....

The Jharkhand State Khadi and Gramodyog Board has started manufacturing rakhis made of waste silk threads, a Board official said. "Rakhis of silk threads are currently being made at Jamshedpur by around 50 trained women," said Kulwant Singh Bunty, a member of the State Khadi Board. The silk required to make rakhis is collected from waste threads at the Amda Khadi centre and elsewhere in Seraikela-Kharswan district," said Bunty, who looks after the Amda Khadi centre.

Jharkhand Khadi board manufacturing silk rakhis

The 'Raksha Bandhan' on August 26 is nearly a month ahead and Bunty is confident that the rakhis would hit the market much before that. "The rakhis will be available at Khadi outlets in the state and be priced at the range of Rs 20 and Rs 35," he said. The Board has also decided to introduce khadi dresses specifically for the Kanwarias - devotees carrying holy water to offer to Lord Baidyanath (Shiva) at the Baidyanath temple at Deoghar - during the month of 'Sravan' (July-August).

Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das

The dresses include sleeveless cotton shirts locally known as 'bundi' and shorts for men and salwar kameez for women, and bags for all, Bunty said. Apart from Amda, silk threads are also produced at Kuchai, Maranghatu and Chandil centres, he said. Earlier this month, Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das had stated that the government was giving priority to handicraft and the country's first khadi mall would come up at Ranchi soon.