NALBARI, Jan 23 - At a time when weavers of the State are staring at uncertainty in the face insofar as their livelihoods are concerned and virtually finding the going uphill to fetch remunerative prices for their handloom products, the phulam gamusa too, which is a symbol of Assamese pride and culture, are being imported from outside the State.
The imported machine-made phulam gamusas are now easily available in every market of the State.To prevent the import of gamusas from outside the State, the MLA of Nalbari LAC Ashok Sarma has therefore taken an initiative to increase production of locally-woven phulam gamusa.
Significantly, he has resolved to challenge the imported gamusa by increasing the locally-woven products.While talking to this Correspondent, Sarma said that he purchased six automatic weaving machines to be installed in his constituency. The automatic weaving machine has a capacity to produce 16 gamusas per day and will reduce labour of the weavers.
Two such automatic weaving machines will be installed at Sutarkuchi village of Nalbari constituency on January 27.
The Gramya Vikash Mancha (GVM), which is a leading NGO of the district, also extended its helping hand for setting up the weaving machines. As part of the initiative, four weaving machines will be set up at Tilana, Rangafali and Domahitola villages in a phased manner.
The MLA further informed that he has also taken measures to train up the poor weavers to handle the automatic weaving machines in order to increase their productivity and their household income.
If the dream scheme of the Nalbari MLA transforms into reality, then flooding of the local markets with phulam gamusa from other States, it is felt, will definitely be checked.
