NNN | IMPHAL, August 7: The Directorate of Handloom and Textiles celebrated the 6th National Handloom Day on Friday at the Conference Hall, Manipur Secretariat in Imphal with Textiles, Commerce and Industry minister Thongam Biswajit Singh as the chief guest.
According to an official statement, the National Handloom Day is being celebrated in commemoration of the formal proclamation of the Swadeshi Movement and passage of the Boycott Resolution to boycott the Manchester cloth and Liverpool salt on August 7, 1905 in a massive meeting held in the Calcutta Town Hall. The Ministry of Textiles considers this occasion as a symbolic date for celebration of the National Handloom Day.
As part of the celebration the State Award for Handloom and Handicrafts were also distributed. And a coffee table book on Manipur Handloom & Handicrafts and a guideline book for Exports of textile Materials were also released.
Addressing the celebration, Biswajit said that celebrating the day alone is not enough and that we should also understand the essence of the day being celebrated on Friday. The main objective of this celebration is to create awareness on handloom, its importance, usage and the employment generation.
The minister also said that the Directorate of Handloom and Textiles has already introduced a Buy Back Scheme for weavers through which weavers can contact the directorate through a toll free number and receive yarn at cheaper rates. The scheme has also buy back provision for the finished products.
Biswajit also said that the coffee table book released on Friday as part of the celebration showcase the beauty of the state before the entire world by highlighting the traditions, culture, handloom and handicraft products of various ethnic groups of the State.
The coffee table book published in association with the Indian Express Group has photographs with brief history on traditional dresses and costumes of different communities of the State.
Elaborating on the responsibility of every individual towards the development of the society, Biswajit said that “our contribution in the development of the society is our own achievement and will bring recognition to us that no one take away”.
In his speech, Manipur Handloom and Handicrafts Development Corporation Ltd Chairman, S.Rajen Singh said the day is being observed throughout the country since 2015 with the main aim to promote our own products.
The celebration of the National Handloom Day will promote our weavers, artisans and craftsmen, he said adding that “we can achieve a self-sufficient society only when we promote and start using our own products”.
State Awards to outstanding three weavers and five artisans were conferred with cash award of Rs. 1 lakh each for 2019-20. Merit awards to three weavers and 15 artisans with cash award of Rs. 50,000 each were also conferred. Consolation Awards of Rs. 10,000 each were also conferred. Under the Scheme for Awardees, financial assistance at Rs. 4.40 lakh each were also distributed to two State Awardees of 2018-19 for producing their award winning products on commercial scale.
Commissioner cum Secretary Textiles, Commerce and Industry Devesh Deval, director Handloom and Textiles, K.Lamlee Kamei and other officials of the directorate also attended the celebration.
