Preservation of handloom products sought
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, November 03 2014:
The Handloom Promotion Council, Manipur and the Manipur Apex Handloom Weavers along with Handicraft Artisans C.S.Society Limited submitted a memorandum to the Minister of Commerce and Industries, Manipur to press for preserving the traditional handloom products of Manipur.
The memorandum was submitted following a conference on "Handlooms reservation of articles for production " held on October 5 last at Manipur Press Club.
In the memorandum, the organisations stated the need to protect the traditional handloom products of the state like "Phanek", from being encroached by the rapidly increasing power loom units , as per the Handlooms Act 1985.A demand of a full-fledged Directorate of Handlooms to address the requirement of the weavers of the state was also included in the memorandum.
Further, they also made a proposal of a unique trademark which will identify the Manipur Handloom.
The proposed trademark which is "The Spider and the Web", signify the story of the Goddess Panthoibi, who began the art of weaving by learning from spiders .