Context

In a historic initiative taken by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), a first Silk Processing Plant was inaugurated at Surendranagar in Gujarat.

About

• This would help cut down the cost of production of silk yarn drastically and increase the sale and availability of raw material for Gujarati Patola Sarees locally.
• Patola, the trademark Saree of Gujarat, is considered to be very costly and worn only by the Royals or the Aristocrat.
• Cocoons will be brought from Karnataka and West Bengal and Silk yarn will be processed in house, thus reducing the cost of production and giving a major boost to the sale of famous Gujarati Patola Sarees.
• Traditionally, every region in India has had its own unique weave for the Silk Saree.
• It is quite notable that Patola Silk Saree is amongst the top five silk weaves which are desired.

 The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC)

• The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) is a statutory body formed by the Government of India, under the Act of Parliament, 'Khadi and Village Industries Commission Act of 1956'.
• It is an apex organisation under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, with regard to khadi and village industries within India.
• It seeks to - "plan, promote, facilitate, organise and assist in the establishment and development of khadi and village industries in the rural areas in coordination with other agencies engaged in rural development wherever necessary.
• The KVIC may also undertake directly or through other agencies studies concerning the problems of Khadi and/or village industries besides research or establishing pilot projects for the development of Khadi and village industries.
• The KVIC is authorized to establish and maintain separate organisations for the purpose of carrying out any or all of the above matters besides carrying out any other matters incidental to its activities.
• The broad objectives that the KVIC has set before it are:
  • The social objective of providing employment.
  • The economic objective of producing saleable articles.
  • The wider objective of creating self-reliance amongst the poor and building up of a strong rural community spirit.

 Patola Saree

• Patola is the trademark Saree of Gujarat.
• Patola is a double ikat woven sari, usually made from silk, made in Patan.
• The word patola is the plural form; the singular is patolu.
• It is one of the most eminent symbols of Indian Craftsmanship.
• It is priced very high and is out of reach of common women.
• The raw material is purchased from Karnataka or West Bengal, where the silk processing units are situated. This increases the cost of fabric manifolds.
• Velvet patola styles are also made in Surat.
• It can take six months to one year to make one sari due to the long process of dying each strand separately before weaving them together.
• Highly valued in Indonesia, became part of the local weaving tradition there.
• The sarees are painted with motifs and patterns inspired from animals and other elements of nature.
• Even though the Patola fabric is said to be of Gujarati origin, its earliest mentions can be found in religious texts mentioning that they were a part of the South Indian culture too.