Khadi Board Headless, Tricolour Production Halted Ahead of Independence Day

RANCHI: Khadi, traditionally associated with India’s freedom movement and national celebrations, appears to be facing a difficult phase in Jharkhand. For the first time in recent years, the Jharkhand State Khadi and Village Industries Board is not producing the Tricolour ahead of Independence Day.
The situation has raised questions over the functioning of the state’s khadi board, which has been operating without a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the past four months. The post of chairman has also reportedly remained vacant for many  years. In the absence of a CEO, officials and workers say the board has also not received any work order for manufacturing the national flag this year.
Every year, the board produces hundreds of Tricolours, with women from different parts of the state contributing to the production process. This year, however, no such order has reached the board, leaving the women workers without the work they would normally undertake ahead of August 15.
A visit to the board’s premises presented a striking contrast to previous years. While the facility would normally be busy producing large numbers of Tricolours at this time, most of the machines were lying idle and not a single Tricolour was visible on the premises. The women who were working were engaged in completing smaller orders.
The decline in activity has also affected the workforce. The number of women working at the facility has fallen considerably, while salaries of employees have reportedly remained pending for around three months. The absence of Tricolour production ahead of a major national celebration has further dampened the morale of the women workers.
The board’s declining activities are not limited to flag production. The Jharkhand State Khadi and Village Industries Board has participated in several major events over the years and has traditionally organised a khadi fair in Ranchi every year. However, the fair was not held in 2025. Its participation in the agricultural fair held in June this year was also reportedly minimal.
The present situation reflects a sharp decline from the days when Jharkhand’s khadi industry regularly showcased its products at major platforms. With the board facing administrative vacancies, declining work and pending salaries, concerns are growing over its future.
The condition has prompted calls for greater government attention and monitoring of the board. For an institution closely associated with rural employment, women’s livelihoods and the legacy of khadi, restoring its functioning and bringing back its earlier vibrancy has become an urgent need.

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