Mega Handloom Park to come up
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal, November 08 2012:
Commerce and Industries minister Govindas today said a mega handloom park will be coming up soon at Imphal East district's Lamboi Khongnangkhong under the sponsorship of Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.
Govindas was speaking at the inaugural function of the "Ningol Chakkouba Festive Fair 2012" organised by the District Handloom and Textiles, Imphal West at Yumnam Leikai Lairembi Lampak.
He said Additional Commissioner, Handloom and Handicrafts, Government of India had visited Imphal on October 19 and inspected the present development of handloom and handicraft in the state.
During the visit, the Additional Commissioner had expressed satisfaction on the current status of handloom and handicrafts of the state and assured that he would urge the Ministry of Textiles to establish a mega handloom park in Manipur, he added.
The handloom sector is a status symbol for Manipur in the world next to the rich culture and sports and the state stands in the third rank in handloom sector in the country at the same time, the minister acknowledged.
A number of jobs have been provided by cluster scheme in the state, Govindas informed and said presently, there are 2, 18000 weavers and 1, 86000 looms in the state.
"If skilled men weavers join the industry Manipur will naturally rank first in this sector in India" .
He also announced that Manipur will take part at the handloom Expo to be held at Prakitri Maidan, New Delhi on November 14 .
The state will also participate at the exclusive Home Furnishing Mela to be held in February 2013 at a five-star hotel in New Delhi, he further informed.
PHED minister I Hemochandra also took part at the opening ceremony of the 7-day long fair.
He said the credit for Manipur ranking the third position in the handloom and handicrafts sector in the country goes to all the weavers in the state.
The highest thing which Manipur ever has is the handloom sector and this is also the industry sector of every household in the state, Hemochandra said.
Even the princesses in Manipur also took up the job of weaving, he admitted.
If model clusters are selected from among the 60 clusters of handloom and handicrafts for competition, automatically there will be a change in this sector, he suggested.
At the Ningol Chakkouba Festive Fair 2012, altogether 119 different stalls are taking part representing different districts of Manipur.
V Tualthang, Additional Director, Commerce and Industries and M Rajen, Project Manager, District Handloom and Textiles, Imphal West also attended the function.