'Handloom product "Leirum Phi" should not be commercialized or re-name'
Source: IT News

Imphal, May 31 2020: Production of Manipuri "Leirum Phi" (a muffler type but culturally bonded Manipur's piece of handloom product) by a Uttar Pradesh based Textile unit using power-loom and without respecting the culture of Manipur on profit motive has not only hurt the sentiment of Manipuris but prompted severe criticism from various sections of people prompting the Director of Handloom & Textiles of the Government of Manipur to write the Development Commissioner for Handlooms Ministry of Textiles , Udyog Bhavan New Delhi to protect the traditional values of the cloth.

The Director Handloom & Textiles of the Government of Manipur, K Lamlee Kamei in a letter to the Development Commissioner for Handlooms Ministry of Textiles referring to a news report of ANI recounted the traditional values of the Leirum phi that the Prime Minister of India wore three important occasion.

As the fabric is traditionally significant to the Manipur's culture and as it is handloom product the Director urged for protection of the Leirum phi from using it as commercial purpose.

The All Club Organisation, Assn.

& Meira Paibi Lup (ACOAM-Lup ), Kangleipak , in a statement lambasted the department of Handloom and other Handloom clusters over its negligence to the value of the Leirum Phi for such a long time.

The statement also stated that when the Prime Minister of India , Narendra Modi had use the lierum Phi there were views from various section on the recognition of Manipur's Culture by the PM but the concern department had ever think of protecting it until a Textile Unit called Barakandi produced in bulk renaming it as Modi Gamsha.

Handloom products protector, Chingtam Luwang while talking to Imphal Times said that the previous Chief Minister and the present Chief Minister N.Biren Singh had directed the Department of Handloom to take GI tag for the Leirum Phi as it is bonded with Manipur's Culture some years back.

However, it is the department of Handloom of the state government that neglects the importance of the Leirum phi.

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