National Handloom Day celebrated, e-Texmanipur launched
Source: Chronicle News Service /DIPR

Imphal, August 07 2021: The directorate of Handloom & Textiles celebrated the 7th National Handloom Day on Saturday at the conference hall of minister of Textiles, Commerce & Industry at Manipur Secretariat, North Block, Imphal.

As part of the day, chief guest of the celebration, textiles minister Th Biswajit launched the e-Texmanipur, which he said, will help bring all textile related activities under one electronic platform from the supply of machinery to marketing and sale of textile related products.

In his speech, minister Biswajit also appealed to the public to promote our handloom and textile sector by using the traditional handloom products.

He said Manipur has already managed to list several traditional attires including Shaphee Lanphee, Moirang Phee and Wangkhei Phee under Geographical Indication of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999 (GI Tag) and process to get GI tag for traditional necklace 'Marei Pareng', Kouna products, Senga, Khamen Chatpa, etc, is underway to preserve and identify the indigenous products.

Highlighting some achievements of the department, he said it has introduced many schemes for handloom weavers like Delivery Scheme, Garment Fair, Yarn Supply Scheme of 20 % subsidy, Documentary Film on handloom, Outreach to remote village, MANITEX, Loom Up-gradation Scheme in 2018 and vegetable-based dyeing among others.

Biswajit also informed that revival of Manipur Spinning Mill is now under active planning with experts for successful operation and further stated that it would continue to upgrade and promote this sector.

The minister also emphasised that one should promote and help artisans and weavers to generate employment in the state as handloom is second only to agriculture in term livelihood in the State.

The directorate also felicitated Tokyo Olympics silver medallist and Padmashree awardee Saikhom Mirabai Chanu.

While congratulating Mirabai on her recent feat at the Tokyo Olympics, Biswajit said that Mirabai has become a symbol of empowerment and courage for young girls.

He further wished Mirabai success in her future endeavours.

Mirabai Chanu expressed her happiness in attending the 7th National Handloom Day celebration and said that being a sportsperson wearing traditional attire in itself is a blessing.

Expressing gratitude to the vast number of weavers and artisans of the state, she said it is because of their hard-work, talents and craftsmanship that Manipuris are able to promote and showcase unique traditional dresses to the outside world.

She further urged the public to use own handloom products and promote traditional attire.

As part of the celebration, state awards to five handicrafts artisans and two handloom weavers were conferred with cash prize of Rs 1 lakh each along with citation and a shawl.

Merit Award and Inspiration/consolation will be distributed after the present curfew is lifted.

Financial support of Rs 4,40,000 each were also given to three state awardees to promote their products.

The directorate also inspired ten other handicrafts artisans and six handloom weavers with consolation prize of Rs 10,000 each for their contribution in the promotion of handloom and handicrafts.

The celebration was also attended by TC&I commissioner RK Dinesh Singh, Handlooms & Textiles director K Lamlee Kamei and joint director E Jeeten among others.

National Handloom Day is celebrated in commemoration of of the formal proclamation of Swadeshi Movement and passage of the Boycott Resolution to Boycott the Manchester cloth and Liverpool salt on August 7, 1905 in a massive meeting held in the Calcutta Town Hall.

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