New handloom machine exhibited in state
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, April 06 2011:
Assamese innovator Deepak Bharali's newly invented Extra-Weft Insertion for Handloom Design, Chanekee, was introduced to Manipur's weavers on Wednesday.
Demonstration of the new and easy way of weaving designed fabrics through handlooms is expected to impart new knowledge to talented weavers of the state during the five day training programme.
Bijoy Koijam,deputy chairman of the state planning board and local MLA formally inaugurated the training program in presence of several experts in diverse fields at Shintha handloom and handicrafts complex at Thongju Pt-II in Manipur's Imphal west district on Wednesday.
Innovator Deepak Bharali, a resident of Sualkuchi, Assam said his device named Chanekee makes designs in one third of the time required by the traditional way of making designs, in which the task of the insertion of weft threads needed to make a variety of designs is done manually by tying knots, which is cumbersome and time consuming.
According to S Bhubol of Shintha handloom and handicrafts, around 15 weavers including one male from Manipur's three districts-Imphal West, Thoubal and Bishnupur are participating in the training programme.
A total of 10 Chanekee (each costs around '6000-7000) were installed under the initiative of National Innovation Foundation and Department of Science & Technology in the state.
Earlier speaking on the opening session of the training programme, experts in diverse field expressed the need to revitalise the traditional knowledge with modern technology in developing or producing market and environment friendly handloom and handicraft products in Manipur.
Recalling the different colours used by Manipur's seven clans since time immemorial in the region, Prof N Rajmuhon of Manipur University's chemistry department speaking on the occasion said, "revitalisation of traditional knowledge is the need of the hour".
The chemist also expressed his desire to do more study on the use of traditional and locally available dying materials instead of importing toxic items from outside the state,in deveoping their products.
Prof AK Das, IIT Guwahati's Department of Design echoing a similar sentiment appealed the artisans of the state to add and incorporate modern techniques and other scientific ideas to make their products competitive in the market.
"We need to do more research on use of caustic soda in making local soap, so that locally available materials can replace to some extent", Prof Das said.
The IIT professor was talking about Manipur's lady innovator Kh Jina's popular herbal soap which had created a hit in the recently concluded National Innovation Foundation's Grassroots Innovation Exhibition at Mughal Gardens, New Delhi.
He also asked local innovators to come up with market friendly products.
Dr Ch Ibohal Meetei of Manipur Institute of Management Studies,Officer on Special Duty M Rajen of the State Commerce & Industries Department, Industrial Designer H Sukumar, Dr Chinglen Meisnam of Manipur Univ ersity's Economic Department, senior journalists and handloom promoters also the attended the day's inauguration function.