Mumbai: Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) Chairman Manoj Goyal interacted with women artisans associated with Shri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad in Mumbai and highlighted the organisation’s contribution to women’s economic participation and self-reliance.
Goyal addressed the artisans at the Sri Shanmukhananda Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Auditorium in Sion on Wednesday, September 30. He also highlighted Lijjat Papad’s expansion from a small women-led enterprise to an organisation with branches across multiple states and products sold internationally.
From Seven Women to 45,000 Artisans
According to the KVIC Chairman, Lijjat Papad began on March 15, 1959, with seven women and an initial contribution of ₹80. The organisation was recognised as a Village Industry by KVIC in 1966.
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Goyal said Lijjat Papad now has 83 branches across 16 states, with more than 45,000 women associated with its operations.
The organisation has also expanded beyond papads to products including spices, flour, detergents and liquid soaps. Its products, according to KVIC, have reached more than 30 countries, including the US, Australia, Japan and South Africa.
KVIC Highlights Lijjat’s Women-Led Enterprise Model
Goyal described Lijjat Papad’s emphasis on quality, discipline and collective work as key elements of its growth. He said the organisation demonstrates the principles of “Vocal for Local” and “Local to Global” by building an Indian consumer brand around a women-led production model.
He also cited national recognition received by the organisation, including the Best Village Industry Award in 2003, Brand Equity Award in 2005 and Women Development Award in 2017.
KVIC Reports Growth in Artisan Employment and Village Industries
During the interaction, Goyal also outlined figures related to the wider Khadi and Village Industries sector.
He said nearly 5 lakh artisans are currently being provided employment through the sector, with women accounting for about 80% of the workforce across around 3,000 Khadi institutions.
According to the figures presented by KVIC, artisan wages have increased by up to 275% over the past 12 years, while production in the Khadi and Village Industries sector has reached approximately ₹1.25 lakh crore and sales have reached ₹1.87 lakh crore.
The Chairman further said more than 3.23 lakh machines and toolkits had been distributed under the Village Industry Development Scheme during the past 12 years.
PMEGP Has Supported 11 Lakh Projects, Says KVIC
Goyal also highlighted the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), saying around 11 lakh new projects had been established so far with subsidies exceeding ₹30,000 crore.
According to the figures, these projects have generated employment opportunities for approximately 1 crore people.
The interaction brought the focus back to Lijjat Papad’s women-led production model while placing it within KVIC’s broader efforts to support artisans, village industries and self-employment.
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