GUWAHATI, March 10 � Minister for Handloom, Textiles and Cultural Affairs Bismita Gogoi today announced that the Government is taking up a lot of initiatives to improve the socio-economic condition of weavers, including creating the right market linkage for them.
Inaugurating the National Level Handloom Expo 2015 today at the Assam Engineering Institute ground, Chandmari, supported by Development Commissioner (Handlooms) and organised by the Directorate of Handloom and Textile, Assam, the Minister said that the department was concentrating on extending economic support to the weavers in various ways.
Calling upon the participants at expo to take advantage of the government schemes, the Minister further said that to expand business it was important to maintain honesty while dealing with the customers. She further said that the handloom sector has given economic empowerment to women.
It needs to be mentioned here that the department has of late undertaken many steps for improving the handloom sector, which is one of the major earning options for the rural people, next to agriculture. One such effort is holding expos inside and outside the State for expansion of business.
�The department has been holding various expos over the years for the benefit of the weavers. Our efforts got an added impetus under the North East Region Textile Promotion Scheme that was launched in 2013 by the Government of India,� said DK Nath, Director of Handloom and Textiles.
Nath informed that last year, two expos were held outside the State under the scheme in Agartala and Delhi. This year expos were held in Kolkata, Agartala and Mumbai. �In Assam, we already organised an expo at Sivasagar,� said Nath.
The expo at Chandmari will continue till March 23.
On the other hand, Nath mentioned that the Handloom Trade Centre opened in Dibrugarh this year will benefit the weavers as it will provide a platform for business as well as exchange of ideas.
�Our attempt is to take the products of Assam outside the State. Expos give an idea to the weavers what the customers want,� said Nath, pointing out that weavers are learning to cater to the demands of the customers outside the State. Nath also said that it is important for the weavers to maintain quality and to be open to innovative ideas so as to capture the market.
