Air India One crew will soon don khadi garments

Cabin crew aboard the Air India One — the official aircraft of the President, the Prime Minister and the Vice-President — will soon be wearing khadi garments to promote adoption of the indigenous fabric. The Khadi Gramodyog Bhawan, under the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), has already secured an order for the same.

While female crew members will wear a silk saree, their male counterparts will turn up with Jodhpuri bandgala coats, trousers and jackets -- all made up of khadi, the order said. "The idea of introducing khadi garments for crew on Air India One is to promote adoption of the fabric, especially among the youth," a top KVIC official said, adding that an official announcement is likely next week. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has advocated the need for use of khadi products as a homage to Mahatma Gandhi and pitched for efforts to popularise the fabric in his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat'. KVIC falls under the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Ministry.