With an increase of ₹40 crore approved by the Karnataka Cabinet, a group of Gandhians called for the revitalization of the historic Badanaval Khadi center in Nanjangud taluk into a model of sustainable rural industry rooted in Gandhian principles.
The recommendation comes months after the state cabinet gave its nod for the financial assistance during a meeting held in Malai Mahadeshwara Hills near Mysuru in April 2025. The allotment follows a promise made during Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the Khadi Center on Gandhi Jayanti Day 2022 during his Bharat Jodo Yatra.
Subsequently, the Karnataka Khadi Council sought a report from a group of Gandhians on a plan to revive the Badanavalu Khadi Centre. The report by Prasanna of Gram Seva Sangh, Jayadev of Deena Bandhu Ashram, Chamarajanagar and Professor Shivraj of Gandhi Bhavan, Bengaluru – all recipients of the prestigious Mahatma Gandhi Seva Puraskar – was presented to DR Patil, Chairman, Decentralization Committee of the Karnataka Government, during his recent visit to Karnataka in Ml. Dhruvanarayan.
While the report says that the khadi center is currently plagued by “mismanagement” and spinning operations have been halted due to a shortage of raw materials and workers who have not been paid for months, it recalls that the Badanavalu center, established by local Gandhians on the advice of the Mahatma during the pre-independence period, was a “beacon of light” for the entire region. The center not only produced khadi, which was exported to England, but also diversified into village industries such as cold-pressed oil, hand-made paper, candles, matchboxes and other natural products.
While arguing for the reintroduction of village industry products to improve profitability, the Gandhis said that diversification into non-khadi products should be gradual and gradual.
Rain shadow zone
The region surrounding Badanavala, unlike irrigated areas elsewhere, falls within the rain shadow zone where agriculture alone cannot sustain livelihoods due to erratic rainfall and groundwater depletion, leading to urban migration.
Therefore, village industries, especially khadi and related activities, should supplement agricultural income and stabilize the rural economy, the report said, while emphasizing the complementary role of cottage industry to make Badanavalu relevant.
Since Gandhian principles also seek to engage the underutilized workforce, especially women and the elderly, rather than able-bodied men, the khadi and village industry model helps engage women in productivity and economic activity even as they remain close to home.
The report stresses that the heritage value of the centre, whose “beauty and dignity lies in its utter simplicity and naturalness”, must be preserved.
Another important shift recommended in the report is to position khadi as a “premium, authentic and sustainable product” rather than competing with cheap imitations. “Proudly claim Badanavala Khadi as a pure product,” the report advises, noting that the authenticity of hand-spinning, hand-weaving, fiber and organic dyes can all be “brand value” and people are now willing to pay more for purity.
“During our study of the center, we realized three things,” the Gandhis said. They emphasized that product quality needed improvement while product design also needed attention, but felt the biggest gap lay in marketing and branding.
Cluster approach
The main recommendation is to adopt a cluster development approach that links Badanavala with nearby weaving and spinning centers like Tagadur and other production villages. “The combined heritage value should then be built into the khadi product and projected as a brand value,” the report said.
Instead of fragmented operations, a coordinated cluster would allow for shared infrastructure, training, marketing support and management expertise, the Gandhis felt.
The report calls for utilization of Gandhi Bhavans in all areas which are unutilized for setting up manufacturing or sales counters for khadi products and village industries.
Published – March 7, 2026 4:14 PM IST
