Biswajit urges weavers to produce quality products
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 03 2022:
Power and Agriculture minister Thongam Biswajit has urged Manipuri weavers to strive for producing quality handloom products by taking part in training programmes conducted under Mission for Economic Empowerment of Traditional Artisans and Craftsmanship (MEETAC) and sponsored by the state government.
Awareness on Cluster development Programme (CDP) under National Handloom Development Pro gramme (NHDP) Ministry of Textiles was organised in connection with Implementation of Kshetrigao CDP by Manipur Apex Handloom Weavers and Handicraft Artisans Co-operative Society Limited (AWAS) at Khongman Zone-multipurpose community hall on Monday.
Speaking as chief guest of the function, minister Biswajit said that MEETAC was taken up as a mission by the then Governor Najma Heptulla as chief patron and chairmanperson so as to promote and sell handloom and handicraft items produced by local weavers and artisans in other places of the world.
A sum of Rs 2 crore has been added in the budget from time to time to train weavers and artisans for production of items of international standard, he continued.
Pointing out that handloom is also a part of the mission, he urged local weavers to join the train ing programme conducted under MEETAC and produce quality products.
The mission not only extends training but also provides the opportunity for launch of start-ups.
He expressed confidence that the awareness programme will definitely benefit the weavers as the knowledge of weaving handloom products alone would not suffice without the idea of marketing and benefits provided by the government for them.
The programme, which was presided over by AWAS president A Ronika, was also attended by Khongman GP pradhan N Nungshirei, Thongju Part-I GP pradhan Th Lata, Ucheckon Nongchup GP pradhan K Munindro, Ucheckon Nongpok GP pradhan N Jadumani, Basikhong GP pradhan N Bimolata, Thongju part-2 GP pradhan Nameirakpam Kanon Chanu, Torban Leikai GP pradhan Longjam Chaobi Devi, Top Dusara GP pradhan Mayanglambam Surbala, Weavers' Service Centre (WSC) Imphal deputy di rector and HoO Hara Kanta Baro, District Handlooms and Textiles, Imphal East project manager Th Ibemcha Devi and National Handloom Development Corporation Ltd (NHDC) officer in charge Y Shantikumar as guests of honour.