Use local poroducts call issued on National Handloom Day
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR
Imphal, August 07 2020:
The Directorate of Handloom and Textiles celebrated the 6th National Handloom Day today at the Conference Hall, Manipur Secretariat with Textiles, Commerce and Industry Minister Thongam Biswajit Singh as the chief guest.
The National Handloom Day is being celebrated in commemoration of the formal proclamation of the Swadeshi Movement and passage of the Boycott Resolution to boycott the Manchester cloth and Liverpool salt on August 7, 1905 in a massive meeting held in the Calcutta Town Hall.
The Ministry of Textiles considers this occasion as a symbolic date for celebration of the National Handloom Day.
As part of the celebration the State Award for Handloom and Handicrafts were also distributed.
And a coffee table book on Manipur Handloom & Handicrafts and a guideline book for Exports of textile Materials were also released.
Addressing the occasion, Biswajit said that celebrating the day alone is not enough and all should also understand the essence of the day being celebrated today.
The main objective of this celebration is to create awareness on handloom, its importance, usage and the employment generation.
The Minister also said that the Directorate of Handloom and Textiles has already introduced a Buy Back Scheme for weavers through which weavers can contact the directorate through a toll free number and receive yarn at cheaper rates.
The scheme also has buy-back provision for the finished products.
Biswajit, who is also the Government spokesperson, said that the State Gabinet had yesterday decided to extend the lockdown with some relaxation.
He appealed to the people to follow the guidelines for relaxation.
"We cannot predict when COVI-19 will end and so we have to fight it by properly following the SOP issued by the Government to not only protect ourselves but also our own family and society," he said.
"COVID-19 doesn't discriminate; however, we should not panic and ensure that we don't discriminate against anyone during this pandemic," he said.
He continued "it is really unfortunate that some of our frontline workers like doctors and policemen have been affected by COVID-19 and we should also pray for their safe recovery and well-being".
The Minister urged all to follow the SOP and wear masks, wash hands frequently and maintain social distancing.
The Government, he said, needs the cooperation of all sections of the society in the fight against the pandemic.
Biswajit also said that the coffee table book released today as part of the celebration showcases the beauty of the State before the entire world by highlighting the traditions, culture, handloom and handicraft products of various ethnic groups of the State.
The coffee table book published in association with the Indian Express Group has photographs with brief history on traditional dresses and costumes of different communities of the State.
"We should create our own platform to showcase and highlight our culture, tradition, beauty," he said and added "we should pledge to promote and use our local products" .
Manipur Handloom and Handicrafts Development Corporation Ltd Chairman S Rajen Singh said the day has been observed throughout the country since 2015 with the main aim to promote "our own products".
The celebration of the National Handloom Day "will promote our weavers, artisans and craftsmen," he said adding "we can achieve a self-sufficient society only when we promote and start using our own products".
State award to outstanding three weavers and five artisans were conferred with cash award of Rs 1 lakh each for 2019-20.Merit award to three weavers and 15 artisans with cash awards of Rs 50,000 each were also conferred.
Consolation award of Rs.10,000 each were also conferred.
Under the Scheme for Awardees, financial assistance at Rs 4.40 lakh each were also distributed to two State awardees of 2018-19 for producing their award winning products on commercial scale.
Commissioner cum Secretary Textiles, Commerce and Industry Devesh Deval, Director Handloom and Textiles, K Lamlee Kamei and other officials of the Directorate also attended the celebration.
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