Kulhad travels to 25 new destinations in Rajasthan

The earthen fragrance of 'Kulhad Chai' is about to enrich your experience of visiting 25 Railway Stations of Rajasthan. The North-Western Railway has issued an instruction to Senior Zonal Commerce Managers posted at Ajmer, Bikaner, Jaipur and Jodhpur to supply Kulhads, Glasses and Plates made of terra-cotta for serving catering items at 25 different Railway Stations in Rajasthan with immediate effect.

These 25 stations include Bikaner, Sirsa, Bhiwani, Hanumangarh, Shri Ganganagar, Hisar, Churu, Suratgarh, Jodhpur, Pali, Jaipur, Ajmer, Udaipur, Sirohi Road and Abu Road, to name a few.

Earlier, at the request of Union MSME Minister, Nitin Gadkari, the Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal directed railway board to issue the directions accordingly.

Consequently, the Railway Board, on September 9 directed all Principal Chief Commercial Managers of the Zonal Railways across the country and IRCTC CMD. In view of that, Zonal Railways and IRCTC are advised to take necessary actions to ensure use of locally produced, environmentally savvy terracotta products like kulhad, glasses and plates for serving catering items to passengers through all static catering units at the identified Railway Stations with immediate effect.

The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) Chairman, VK Saxena's request to Union Railway Minister, Piyush Goyal to allow Varanasi and Rae Bareli Stations as a pilot project for use of Kulhad and other earthen articles in place of plastic articles, was permitted.

Appreciating the move, VK Saxena said, "This is a welcome move by the North Western Railways to replace plastic products by pottery products."

"Indian potters are migrating to other menial forms of livelihood due to lack of market for pottery products and the severe labour involved in it. KVIC launched 'Kumhar Sashaktikaran Yojna' last year to empower Kumhar Community and distributed 10,000 electric pottery wheels. This year, KVIC is planning to distribute 30,000 electric pottery wheels across the country which will produce around 2 Crores Kulhads per day," he added.