MANITEX underway, financial assistance distributed to weavers

Imphal: Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh on Saturday inaugurated MANITEX, Manipur International Textile Expo at the Urban Haat Nilakuthi.

The Expo, which will continue till November 14, is organised by the Directorate of Handlooms & Textiles.

Biren also launched Mega handloom Cluster of Imphal East, laid foundation of Craft Handloom Village, Moirang and distributed financial assistance to weavers with Aadhar Linked bank Account Numbers through DBT under the National Handloom Development Programme.

The financial assistance through DBT will be distributed to around 15,450 handloom weavers and boatmen with a total outlay of around Rs 23.4815 crore. ​Today, beneficiaries of different schemes received funds directly transferred to their accounts. Funds are transferred directly to farmers, weavers, old age pensioners, scheme beneficiaries, etc. under different scheme, the chief minister said.

“Our people have the potential, talents and especially womenfolk are courageous and brave,” he said.

Considering that some businessmen are trying to monopolize the yarn business, the government has decided to establish a wholesaler of yarn at Ima Keithel so that weavers can get them at cheaper price, he added.

Considering instances of mass production of traditional cloths like the Khudei, Phanek, enaphi, etc, by using machines outside the state which are made available at a cheaper price to control the market, shops and business houses have been instructed that such traditional items which are handmade should not be replaced by machine made copies.

There is peace and a feeling of oneness and sharing among the people of the state, today, the chief minister said.

Biren encouraged the people to witness the Manipur Sangai Festival, and said people can visit the festival venues freely after November 15.

He also highlighted the government’s target to provide 100 percent drinking water pipelines to all households in the state.

Minister Th. Biswajit Singh said MANITEX was upgraded to International Textile Expo from being a national and regional level expo from 2018 onwards with the main objective of promoting the weavers and their products on the international platform.

The state’s weavers have the huge potential, he said, adding that, according to the 2019-20 National Handloom Census Report the state has 2.12 lakh handloom weavers, 2.11 lakh looms and 2 lakh handicraft artisans.

Minister Nemcha Kipgen said MANITEX has the main objective of showcasing the state’s handlooms, handicrafts, dyeing and printing, powerloom, garment, embroidery and costume to the outside world.

The Expo will also have a Fashion Parade, she said.

This year, the Expo has 274 stalls including local weavers, artisans, entrepreneurs, local private companies, national level organisations, international stalls from Thailand, Bangladesh and Myanmar, food court, state government departments, etc.

The inaugural function was also attended by ministers L. Susindro Meitei and Kashim Vashum among others.