R-Day buzz missing at KSGA, flag sales dip

AMRITSAR: Sale of khadi flags on Republic Day and Independence Day always make records, but this year, sales at Kshetriya Shri Gandhi Ashram have come down due to internal frictions.
The continuing internal divide at Kshetriya Shri Gandhi Ashram (KSGA), Amritsar zone, which covers Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, Sri Nagar and Lucknow and has ten commercial outlets under its jurisdiction, has resulted in deceleration in sale of khadi flags on Republic Day.
Ram Surat Yadav, former secretary, KSGA, said that in earlier years, during these days, the sale always went up to 3-4 lakhs whereas this year, the sale has slowed down to 60-70 thousands. "Thus, more than 70% of traditional business has been hit due to strike" he said.
"KSGA, established to provide employment opportunities to people belonging to rural areas at their doorstep, now seemed unable to provide jobs even to daily wagers, weavers and charkha spinners for the past several months due to its internal strife. Slowly and steadily, internal friction has crippled the working of KSGA, bringing down the number of workers engaged and production sharply," he added.
Local social welfare group Aazadi ke Parwane said that on Republic Day, they used to buy khadi flags in bulk, but this year, they failed to make purchases as strike was on at KSGA.
Secretary, KSGA, Amritsar zone, Balwinder Singh, said that the organization was bearing regular losses due to the workers' strike. "Several factors such as non-availability of working capital, economic crises, shortage of raw material, business hit by Chinese goods, etc., have already brought the working of KSGA to a halt. Now, the workers' strike has added fuel to the fire," he lamented.
Yadav said, "This was the peak season as government gives 20% subsidy on sale of khadi in these months (October to January), but we have wasted the facility this time as well."