Ponduru khadi, once celebrated by Gandhi, gets GI tag

Ponduru Khadi, from Srikakulam, once highly regarded by Gandhi, has achieved a landmark milestone with its Geographical Indication (GI) tag, granted by the Geographical Indications Registry under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Known globally for its fine khadi products, the quiet village of Ponduru in Srikakulam district, Visakhapatnam, now gains renewed recognition as its quality textile earns this achievement.

​Khadi is a handspun fabric, known for its purity and finesse. It played a crucial part in India’s freedom movement, as it symbolized economic self-reliance and brought together people from all classes through the Charkha (spinning wheel). During the Swadeshi movement, it directly challenged the British’s imported mill-made mass-produced fabric by boycotting British goods and showing self-sufficiency. According to KVIC documents, a Ponduru khadi stole was gifted to Mahatma Gandhi during the Swadeshi movement in 1921. He was so impressed by the high quality and finesse of the cloth that he sent his son Devdas Gandhi to Ponduru to study the process of making the Ponduru Khadi.

​A process indigenous to the village is used by the artisans to yield the high-quality textile product. The village has practised the art of weaving the fine, handmade fabric for a very long time, but gained recognition only during the Swadeshi Movement. Artisans who specialised in this received awards from the President and Prime Minister.

Union Civil Aviation Minister and Srikakulam MP Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu congratulated Ponduru Khadi for earning the GI tag, highlighting the years of persistent effort and the deep connection of the weavers to this recognition. He emphasized that this achievement not only honours the legacy of Srikakulam’s artisans but also strengthens their identity and livelihoods as Ponduru Khadi attains national pride and renewed global presence.