Revive Badanavalu Khadi Centre as model rural industry rooted in Gandhian principles: Report

Revitalise Badanavalu Khadi Centre as a sustainable rural industry, enhancing product quality, design, and marketing strategies.

With the ₹40 crore boost cleared by the Karnataka Cabinet, a group of Gandhians has called for revitalising the historic Badanavalu Khadi Centre in Nanjangud taluk into a model of sustainable rural industry rooted in Gandhian principles.

The recommendation comes months after the State Cabinet, during a meeting held at Malai Mahadeshwara Hills near Mysuru in April 2025, gave its nod for the financial assistance. The allocation follows a promise made during Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the Khadi centre on Gandhi Jayanti Day in 2022 during his Bharat Jodo Yatra.

Subsequently, the Karnataka Khadi Board sought a report from a group of Gandhians on the roadmap for the Badanavalu Khadi’s Centre’s revival. The report by Prasanna from Gram Seva Sangh, Jayadev from Deena Bandhu Ashram, Chamarajanagar, and Professor Shivraj from Gandhi Bhavan, Bengaluru — all are recipients of the prestigious Mahatma Gandhi Seva Puraskar — was submitted to D.R. Patil, Chairperson of the Decentralization Committee of Government of Karnataka, during his visit to Badanavalu recently, in the presence of Nanjangud MLA Dhruvanarayan.

While making a note that the khadi centre is currently plagued by ‘poor management’ with spinning activity halted due to lack of raw material and workers going unpaid for months, the report recalls how the Badanavalu Centre, 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 centre not only produced khadi that was exported to England, but had also diversified into village industries, like cold-pressed oil, hand-made paper, candles, match-boxes, and other natural products.

While arguing for reintroduction of the village industry products to improve profitability, the Gandhians said the diversification into non-khadi products should take place gradually in a phased manner.

The region surrounding Badanavalu, unlike irrigated areas elsewhere, falls under a rain-shadow zone, where agriculture alone cannot sustain livelihood due to erratic rainfall and groundwater depletion, leading to migration towards cities.