MoS Dharsana bats for export of handloom & handcraft products
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR
Imphal, August 23 2022:
Union Minister of State for Textiles Darshana Vikram Jardosh attended the inauguration of Exhibition and launching of awareness programme under National Handloom & Handicrafts Development Programme as chief guest at City Convention Centre here on Tuesday.
Presided over by Commerce and Industries minister Nemcha Kipgen, the inaugural function was also attended by Manipur Handloom & Handicrafts Development Corporation chairman Kh Ibomcha, and Moirang MLA Th Shanti Singh as guests of honour.
Textiles, Commerce and Industries commissioner PK Jha and Sericulture commissioner Shailesh Kumar Chaurasia were also present at the event.
While addressing the gathering, MoS Darshana stressed on 'One District, One Product' with an objective to expand the market for the weavers and artisans to different parts of the country and target for exports.
She also urged for availing various schemes and programmes of the government to widen their scope and further enhance their products to promote at the larger platform.
The union minister also called for organising marketing events to expand the market of the local products.
In her speech, Nemcha Kipgen highlighted the initiative taken up by the state government under the leadership of chief minister N Biren Singh for the welfare and development of the weavers and artisans.
She informed that 21 projects of Cluster Development Programme, one Craft Handloom Village and Mega Handloom Cluster each under National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP) were sanctioned for Manipur by the Union Textiles Ministry.
Nemcha also stated that Manipur has the highest concentration of handloom weavers in the country with 2.12 lakh handloom weavers and 2.11 lakh looms as per the report of 4th National Handloom Census Report 2019.The number of Handicraft artisans is also more or less the same, she said.
The minister said that the Handloom and Handicraft Delivery scheme, which was launched on June 29, 2017 has proven to be beneficial to many weavers.
Under the Loom Upgradation Scheme, weavers are able to exchange their old looms for new ones.
In all, 6705 looms have been distributed till 2021-22.Meanwhile, Manipur International Textile Expo (MANI-TEX) is held as an annual routine programme from November 5-14 every year, facilitating the sale of various handloom and handicraft products and also to help in promotion of the state's culture and tradition.
She then appealed to the Union MoS for discussing formulation of a special guideline of Pradhan Mantri Mega Integrated Textile Region.
Speaking on the occasion, Kh Ibomcha appreciated PM Modi's approval for setting up a Mega Handloom Cluster Village at Nongpok Kakching as way of congratulating Saikhom Mirabai for winning the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
He also expressed elation over the Ministry's approval to Manipur Handloom and Handicraft Corporation Limited to organise two national level marketing events, which were held in Delhi and Kolkata, and three state level marketing events, two of which have been completed and the remaining will be held in September first week.
Such marketing events help provide a platform for weavers and artisans to showcase their products, he said, while urging the government to discuss new project schemes for handloom and handicraft, which is the second biggest employer in Manipur after the agriculture sector.
As part of the programme, MoS Darshana led in launching of 3D design of Craft Handloom Village at Moirang, distributions of PEHCHAN Cards to artisans and weavers, distribution of tool kits to artisans and distribution of certificates to artisans and weavers under SAMARTH.
The Ministerial team also inspected the exhibition stalls and interacted with the participating handloom weavers and handicraft artisans.
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