A 20-member delegation from Faridkot-based Kheti Virasat Mission (KVM) met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Prime Minister’s Office in Parliament House on National Handloom Day and presented him with the national flag made from handspun and handwoven khadi.The khadi fabric used for the flag was produced from indigenous, non-Bt cotton cultivated through natural farming methods. The delegation included 10 natural farmers and farmer-trainers, along with 10 weavers, most of them rural women associated with KVM’s Nav-Trinjan handloom initiative in Jaitu, Faridkot.According to KVM executive director Umendra Dutt, the Prime Minister interacted with the delegation for nearly half an hour, asking about their work and appreciating the dedication of the women weavers. Modi said their visit had made the day “meaningful” and added that natural farming was “the only way forward”, Dutt said.Rupsi Garg, director of KVM and head of the Nav-Trinjan initiative, explained to the Prime Minister how traditional spinners and weavers were identified across Punjab villages, particularly in the Faridkot-Moga region, and trained to develop a complete “farm-to-fabric” value chain based on indigenous cotton.Surinder Pal Singh Siyag, chairman of the Nav-Trinjan committee, presented indigenous cotton seeds and fabric samples to the Prime Minister. A handwoven khadi shawl made by Ramandeep Kaur of Chaina village was also gifted to him.The delegation also briefed Modi about KVM’s work in natural farming, indigenous seed conservation, pesticide-free agriculture and rural livelihoods. The organisation submitted suggestions on promoting natural farming and rural reconstruction in Punjab.KVM office-bearers said the interaction marked national recognition for nearly 15 years of grassroots efforts in reviving indigenous cotton cultivation, handloom weaving and livelihood opportunities for rural women and youth in the region.