Yarn passbook
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, June 01 2020: Efforts are on to register Leirum Phee under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, said Textiles, Commerce and Industry Minister Thongam Biswajit Singh today.

He stated the above during the release of the yarn passbooks to be distributed to weavers of the State through the District Project Managers at his official residence at Sanjenthong.

A total of 10,000 passbooks have been released (first phase), he said adding the yarn passbook holders will receive 20 percent subsidy on any kind of yarn.

The Minister said that the Government took the decision to introduce yarn passbook in order to help the weavers during this lockdown period and at the same time enhance their income.

He continued that handloom is second only to agriculture in providing livelihood to the people of the State.

Appealing the weavers to enrol themselves for the yarn passbook, he said that the Government is taking up all efforts to provide yarn to the weavers so that they continue weaving during the lockdown.

Biswajit also urged the people to promote local products and help to improve the State and the country's economy.

Meanwhile, regarding the large scale production of "Gamcha" a copy of the traditional Leirum Phee Lengyan in a textile manufacturing unit in Uttar Pradesh, the Minister informed that the Directorate has already written an official letter to the Central Ministry to stop the production "immediately" .

He will also personally apprise the Union Minister through an official letter to stop the production of State's traditional stole (Lengyan) elsewhere, said Biswajit adding the Directorate is consulting experts and authorities concerned to get the Leirum Phee registered under the Geographical Indication (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 to protect State's and weavers' interests.

The Minister further noted that getting GI tag for the Leirum Phee design Lengyan will be difficult unless Leirum Phee first gets registered.

"After successfully registering the Leirum Phee under GI (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, we may further proceed to get GI tag for the Leirum Phee designed Lengyan," he said.

It may be noted that many organisations and weavers have raised objection against mass production of Leirum Phee Lengyan at a textile manufacturing unit in UP.

Significantly, the products are being sold on Amazon at Rs 249 per piece.

The traditional Leirum Phee designed Lengyan got attention of the textile manufacturing unit in UP after Prime Minister Narendra Modi wore the same on many occasions.

The passbook releasing function was also attended by Handloom and Handicraft Director Lamlee Kamei and other officials of the Directorate.

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