Pact signed with Amazon to market state's handloom products
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR
Imphal, June 06 2022:
"We are proud of our handloom and handicraft products", said chief minister N Biren Singh on Monday during the inaugural function of the Manipur Heritage Expo at the City Convention Centre.
An MoU was signed with Amazon Karigar on the day and 2475 looms were also distributed.
Speaking as the chief guest, Biren thanked the Amazon team present at the inaugural function for acknowledging the importance and uniqueness of Manipur's handloom and handicraft products.
N Biren also spoke on the importance of Geographical Indications (GI) and said that it is necessary to GI tag the traditional dresses, craft items of the state's tribes.
He also appreciated the department officials for their commitment and dedication, and said that the quality of products should not be compromised as he stressed the need for zero tolerance against corruption.
The state's handloom and handicraft products today have a place in the world stage because of the hard work of our weavers and artisans, he added.
The chief minister also urged the weavers to inform him if there are any defects on the looms distributed on Monday.
"Now that the Amazon platform is available, weavers will not face the lack of marketing space for their finished products", he said, adding that already 250 handloom and handicraft items have been uploaded on the e-marketing platform.
CM Biren further stressed the need to preserve and encourage local handicraft and traditional items while appreciating the skills, talents of the people of the state.
He expressed pride in being a Manipuri and an Indian.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taught us a good lesson on self-reliance.
The rural economy depends on those who work from the ground level and without improving rural economy, state's economy cannot be improved, Biren added.
The chief minister also informed that weavers and artisans can seek financial assistance under the Start-up Scheme, the budget of which has been increased to Rs 100 crore from this financial year.
In her address, minister Nemcha Kipgen said that Manipur's handloom and handicraft are known internationally while cited National Handloom Census Report 2019, to point out Manipur has around 2.12 lakh handloom weavers, around 2.11 lakh looms and around 2 lakh handicraft artisans.
"Our handloom and handicraft have helped in generating employment as well as income in our society", she added.
In his welcome address, additional chief secretary P Vaiphei said, "Joining hands with Amazon is an appropriate step as online shopping and online delivery have become a forte of all entrepreneurship and this is where all our handloom weavers and handicraft artisans need to be promoted to".
The inaugural function was also attended by Lamsang MLA S Rajen Singh, Keirao MLALRameshwar Meetei, chief secretary Dr Rajesh Kumar and secretary Michael Achom among others.
The MoU was signed between Manipur Handloom & Handicrafts Development Corporation (MHHDC) Ltd represented by managing director E Jeeten Singh and Amazon Sellers Private Ltd, represented by Udyay Mehta, head of Public Policy (e-commerce), Amazon.
MHHDC has already been tied up with Amazon since 2020 and was taking a key responsibility in providing an e- market platform for the state's handloom and handicraft products during the COVID-19 pandemic through its own e-market platform called panthoibi.com.
Now, with the signing of the MoU, MHHDC will take a leading role for marketing the state handloom and handicraft products through Amazon.
It may be mentioned that 2475 fly-shuttle looms were also distributed to weavers from across the state under upgrade of Loom Scheme as part of the TOO Action Points For First 100 Days' of the new government.
Dummy tokens for the looms were distributed to selected 16 weavers by the dignitaries during the inaugural function.