CABINET TO DISCUSS MANDATORY HANDLOOM MADE UNIFORMS FOR SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES: BISWAJIT

Textiles, Commerce and Industry Minister Shri Thongam Biswajit Singh said he will take up before the State Cabinet the issue of making handloom made uniforms mandatory in schools and colleges.

The Minister was speaking at the 3rd National Handloom Day Celebration which was held at the City Convention Centre, Palace Gate. The observation was jointly organised by Development Commissioner for Handlooms Weavers’ Service Centre, Imphal under the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, and the Directorate of Handloom & Textiles.

Addressing the observation, the Minister said the day is observed to encourage people to use hand-made loom in the country. He explained the Central Government has declared August 7 as National Handloom Day, to be celebrated every year due to its significance in India’s history, as ‘Swadeshi Movement’ was launched in 1905 on this day. The movement involved revival of domestic products and production processes.

Shri Biswajit also said that weaving is a tradition of the State, and as we have maximum number of weavers and maximum number of looms, we need to explore our products to the outside world.

He said the department will organise a national level Vibrant Handloom Expo in the State so as to showcase our handloom products to the outside world.

The Minister also asserted that investors are ready to invest in the handloom sector in the State and that the government is also mulling feasibility of signing MoUs with some of the investors with the aim of improving the State’s economy.

Explaining selection of beneficiaries for Pradhan Mantri Employment Generation Programme, the Minister also said that projects under the scheme will be granted to clusters instead of individual weavers. This will help in promotion of handloom in the State, he added.

He further urged the officials of the department to work with all sincerity for the successful implementation of all the government schemes and projects to promote and preserve our traditional handloom products.

The Ministry of Textiles and Indira Gandhi National Open University have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to provide free higher education to weavers of the country who are 18 years and above, said Additional Director, IGNOU Regional Centre Imphal, Shri Mayoni Shimray in the 3rd National Handloom Day Celebration at the City Convention Centre.

He said weavers of the State who are yet to pass their matriculation, but 18 years and above, can also enjoy the scheme and enrol for the six-month long Bachelor Preparatory Programme at IGNOU. Any weaver who has passed this programme can pursue graduation from IGNOU, he said.

Speaking on the major initiatives for development of handloom sector by Weavers Service Centre, the Centre’s Assistant Director Shri M. Ibohal said the centre is providing skill upgradation training for weavers and on completion of the training the weavers are provided accessories and machineries to earn their livelihoods.

He also asserted that the Centre provides the India Handloom Brand – an initiative of the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India for branding of high quality handloom products, e-commerce – a platform for buying and selling of finished handloom products.

The Centre also distributes the National Merit Certificate and Shant Kabir Award to deserving weavers, he added.

The Assistant Director also explained the E-dhaga – a mobile app where the weavers can check availability of raw materials, rate quotations, etc.

During the observation, proprietor of Rani Handloom Industry narrated their success story.

As part of the programme, Minister Biswajit also released the Compendium of Handlooms & Textiles. Prizes to the Best Performing Handloom Clusters of Manipur were also handed over to Andro Cluster and Yarou Bamdiar Cluster. The Prize carries a cash award of Rs. 50,000 and a citation.

Handloom & Handicrafts Development Corporation Limited Chairman Shri Rajen Singh presided over the observation. Officials of the department and individual weavers and from different clusters also attended the observation.

The Ministry of Textiles and Indira Gandhi National Open University have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to provide free higher education to weavers of the country who are 18 years and above, said IGNOU Regional Centre, Imphal Additional Director Shri Mayoni Shimray.

He said weavers of the State who are yet to pass their matriculation, but 18 years and above, can also enjoy the scheme and enrol for the six-month long Bachelor Preparatory Programme at IGNOU. Any weaver who has passed this programme can pursue graduation from IGNOU, he said.

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