SHILLONG, Aug 7 - The National Handloom Day was observed here to commemorate the Swadeshi Movement and various dignitaries urged the people to wear handloom clothes to stay rooted to their culture and also encourage rural weavers and the economy.
Meghalaya Governor Ganga Prasad said that wearing handloom (attire) is not a practice that should be celebrated for a day, but it should be worn all the year round to remain rooted to one�s culture, tradition and also support the weavers who put in years of experience, time, energy and soul into creating these pieces of art.
The National Handloom Day is observed every year on August 7 to honour handloom weavers of the country and remember the Swadeshi Movement of 1905. During the movement, Indians boycotted British goods in favour of domestic products, added the Governor.
Prasad said that the young generation of Meghalaya has started making fashionable handloom products and urged more youths to use their talent and creativity in the handloom sector.
He stressed the need to make handloom clothes more fashionable so that people at large are attracted towards the handloom products.
Minister of Sericulture and Weaving Banteidor Lyngdoh highlighted the importance of this sector for employment generation and assured the weavers of all assistance from the Government�s side.
He also stated that he would take up with the Union Ministry to start the weavers� service centres in order to help the entrepreneurs.
Prominent weavers from the State were also felicitated with cash awards and certificates during the function.
Manipur Correspondent adds: The National Handloom Day was observed under the aegis of the Directorate of Handloom and Textiles, Government of Manipur, in Imphal.
Textiles, Commerce and Industry Minister Thongam Biswajit Singh, chairman of the Manipur Handloom and Handicrafts Development Corporation S Rajen Singh, vice chairman, MIDA, O Lukhoi Singh, MLA S Subhaschandra Singh and Principal Secretary (Textiles, Commerce and Industry) P Vaiphei and Director, Handlooms and Textiles, K Lamlee Kamei attended the function.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister Biswajit announced that a new scheme would be launched in the State to help artisans working in the field to become self-reliant.
Highlighting the significance of the day, the minister said that the main objective is to promote handloom and handicraft products. In this context, he informed that despite a huge demand for handloom and handicraft items, the region is yet to tap the global market. �We have to create better market linkages among the artisans that will help them to march forward,� he said.
Laying stress on using natural dyes on handloom products, he appealed to the artisans to prepare dyes from herbs available in their vicinity. Besides launching a logo of handloom and handicrafts, a reference book titled Manipur Handloom Development Programme was also released in the programme.
