SUALKUCHI, Aug 8 - With India�s first silk testing laboratory under the Private Public Participation(PPP) mode inaugurated here at the nerve centre of muga pat fabric production, a new era in the history of Assam silk industry of Sualkuchi has begun.
The chief executive officer, Silk Mark Organisation, under the Central Silk Board, K Sukumar Menon, inaugurated the silk testing laboratry by illuminating a lamp, in a public meeting held on August 6 at the Sri Sri Sankar Dev Mandir, a Vaishnavite temple of the village.
Addressing the gathering, Menon lauded the people of Sualkuchi for preserving the handloom industry at a time when mill-made products are posing a serious threat. He said that the silk test laboratory will guarantee the purity of the clothes and detect the duplicate and mixed silk clothes. Duplicate or mixed silk clothes bring a bad name and destroy the glory of the genuine ones. He called upon the weavers and producers to test the yarn and clothes and take the purity certificate from the authorised agency.
Regarding the quality of the clothes, Menon said that the artisans should develop their skill to get maximum gains. Referring to the present deplorable condition of the handloom industry of the silk village, Menon stressed the need of Bastra Utsav and Bastra Mela of Sualkuchi products at different places where people from all strata may get the chance to come in contact with the artisans of the village.
Participating in the inaugural ceremony, Ravi Kumar, Scientist D of the Central Silk Board, Guwahati called upon the weavers and producers to maintain the quality of finished products. Kamal Kumar Baishya, ADC, Kamrup thanked the Central Silk Board authority for setting up the testing laboratory at Sualkuchi and assured the people that the district administration will provide all help to make laboratory a success. S Mandal, Deputy Director, Sericulture department thanked the Central Silk Board and the Silk Mark organisation and appealed to the people to avail the opportunity of testing silk yarn seed fabrics.
The meeting with Dr Dipesh Chandra Bhagabati, principal of SBMS College in the chair was also attended by Ranjit Kumar Sarma, Asst Director, Sericulture, Mamta B Devi, executive officer, Silk Mark Organisation, North East and Ramesh Ch Das, president of Tat Silpa Unnayan Samitee.
Earlier, Nihar Ranjan Kalita explained the objectives of the meeting. Later, in the afternoon, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma visited the silk testing unit and declared a financial aid of Rs 5 lakh to the Sualkuchi Tat Silpa Unayan Samiti.
