In line with its vision to transform the way India buys & sells, Bihar Khadi & Village Industries Board, a Government of Bihar undertaking signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Amazon India today. As part of the MoU, Amazon India will enable rural khadi weavers to directly sell their products to Amazon.in customers across the country. The portfolio online will include products such as sarees, shirts, men’s kurtas, women’s kurtis among others which have a tremendous potential and demand in urban areas.
This partnership with Amazon India will further support the digital journey for these artisans, expand their reach and boost employment for the sector
With the world moving towards natural and eco-friendly products there is an increasing demand for organic products. Through this partnership, Bihar Khadi & Village Industries Board and Amazon India intend to empower and generate livelihood opportunities and additional income for the rural weavers and boost the local economy. By bolstering digital connectivity of the weaver community, this collaboration will help them be a part of and benefit from India’s booming digital economy. With the option of selling products online, these Khadi weavers associated with the Bihar Khadi board will be able to expand their reach, fetch an appropriate price for their unique products, which in-turn will help raise their overall standard of living.
With their rich experience and deep understanding of consumers, Amazon India can really make a difference in facilitating these gifted artisans & craftsmen to take advantage of the growing digital economy
Sharing his views on the initiative, Jai Kumar Singh, Department of Industries, Government of Bihar said, “Khadi has been witnessing a new wave of acceptance from customers in the last few years. Bihar State Khadi Gramodhyog Board has been supporting the rural population in the state by providing employment at their doorsteps from the past 5 decades.”
K K Pathak, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Industries, Government of Bihar said, “This partnership will publicize Khadi and its activities to keep their inspiration source in local market and to let people have a dignified life through self-employment. ”
Talking about this partnership,.N. Prasad, CEO, Khadi & Village Industries Board, Government of Bihar said, “With Khadi becoming more popular among modern customers, it’s very important to understand their ever changing tastes and preference. We are looking to help people and registered organizations economically under different schemes of government through this partnership. We also plan to educate and inform rural masses about cottage industries and technical guidance”
“In line with our vision to transform the way India buys and sells, Amazon India has been continuously working towards enabling more and more sellers, weavers and artisans to embrace online selling and expand their business. To support the surge in demand for Khadi products in the last few years, we are very happy to partner with Bihar Khadi & Village Industries Board to take these products to millions of loyal Amazon customers. Through marketing, selling and delivery of various Khadi and village industries products, we seek to drive disruptive change and transform the lives of these weavers from across the state. We look forward to offering them the most comprehensive suite of seller services and requisite tools in their new digital journey,” said Gopal Pillai, Director & GM, Seller Services, Amazon India.
Amazon India, over the course of one year, has partnered with various government bodies like DC Handloom, Ministry of Textiles, The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development of India (TRIFED), Government of Uttar Pradesh, Government of Telangana, Central Cottage Industries, Gujarat Tribal Development Department, Priyadarshini Handlooms to supplement the efforts of the government to uplift artisans, weavers & SMEs across the country. The company has created specialized training modules, conducted workshops with on-ground staff and shared learning resources to help them start & grow their businesses online. Through these efforts, Amazon has reached over 2100 master weavers, co-operatives, artisans & APEX bodies to reach customers across India, impacting over 760,000 weavers & artisans across the country. Grant Thornton (GT) India LLP, who is currently working as a project management agency (PMA) for KVIB in Bihar is facilitating Khadi Board in joining hands with Amazon India. This initiative of KVIB supported by GT will definitely provide a dynamic market for Khadi and Village Industries products and will ultimately help the artisans of Bihar to be self-dependent.
Bihar State Khadi Gramodhyog Board came in to existence with the foundation of Bihar State from the last five decades. Board is trying to help rural people partially by providing employment at their door steps. The motive of Board is to publicize Khadi and its activities to keep their inspiration source in local market and to let people live with proud by self-employment. Bihar State Khadi Gramodhyog Board helps people and registered organizations economically under different schemes of Government. Board's one objective is to educate and inform rural mass about cottage industries and technical guidance.
