An Integrated Rural Development Model based on Comprehensive Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Khadi-Handloom Industry in Rural India

Khadi is an indigenous handloom industry of India which has an imperative legacy attached with the Indian Freedom Movement. Khadi means any fabric which is hand-woven using a spinning wheel called 'Charkha'. In the pre-industrialized era, Khadi was one of the most prominent indigenous fabrics, which promoted self-reliance and self-sufficiency in the rural areas. But post-independent India experienced a sudden upsurge in technology-intensive, urban textile mills. This paper studies the Life-Cycle stages of production of Khadi-handloom fabrics, through a comprehensive life-cycle assessment (LCA) performed using GaBi software; to assess its energy consumption and environmental impacts. It was observed that production of Khadi-handloom fabric is environmentally sustainable and socially more inclusive as compared to mass-produced textiles. Furthermore, socio-economic and cultural dimensions were added as an extension to LCA to formulate an integrated Khadi-based rural development model. The proposed model provides an alternative paradigm for local community-based sustainable rural development.