Srinagar, (IANS) A ‘charkha’ or spinning wheel can provide employment to many unemployed youth and women in rural areas, Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Kalraj Mishra said on Sunday.

The minister inaugurated the Harmukh Khadi Gram Udyog Sansthan, a spinning and weaving centre and marketing plaza for khadi goods at a function here.

Mishra said charkha “is a symbol of resistance” and can help many unemployed youth and women in far flung areas “to attain financial independence”.

The minister distributed 25 new model charkhas to local artisans at the function, which was organised by Khadi and Village Industries Board-Srinagar.

He said the government is ready to provide all sorts of assistance to the state of Jammu and Kashmir in order to remove regional imbalances and urged the state to come forward and seek maximum help from New Delhi.