GUWAHATI, Aug 7 - Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today said Assam's handloom products have the capacity to capture the world market and the State needs best marketing strategies for that.
�Traditionally, Assam�s women weavers have always been able to earn respect and appreciation from around the world and our weavers now must take up the challenge of supplying enough gamosas in the festive season to make the imported ones unwanted,� Sonowal said at a function to mark the 4th National Handloom Day organised by the Handloom and Textiles Department here.
Sonowal urged the weavers of the State to take full advantage of the Act East Policy to gain access to the Southeast Asian market.
�Handloom and weaving can be means for the womenfolk of the State to empower themselves economically and this will result in true implementation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign,� he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Handloom and Textiles Ranjit Dutta said �Sipinee Samaroh� (Weavers� Conclave) will be organised at different parts of the State by his department for which Rs 3 crore has been earmarked.
He also said the department is giving more emphasis on research and development of handloom products at its Handloom Research and Designing Centre here.
The department is also mulling a step to provide Rs 25,000 as assistance to those opting for self employment among the 97 trainees who pass out every year from the four Handloom Training Institutes in the State, Dutta said.
He added that threads are being provided to the weavers at 20 per cent subsidised rate and mobile vans are also being used for distributing threads in interior places of the State.
A handloom policy would soon be implemented in Assam and 100 SHGs engaged in handloom in the State would be given financial assistance up to Rs 5 lakh, Dutta said.
