Imphal, August 7: The Manipur government is taking concrete steps to transform its traditional handloom and handicraft sector from an unorganised to a formalised industry with global reach. A Detailed Project Report (DPR) has already been submitted to the Ministry of Textiles for setting up an integrated Textile Park with a Textile Design Institute in the state.
Speaking to media during ‘National Handloom Day’ observation held in City Convention in Imphal on Thursday, Anurag Bajpayee, additional Chief Secretary (Textiles, Commerce and Industries), Government of Manipur, said, “We formulated the DPR about one and a half months ago and have submitted it to the Ministry of Textiles. The ministry is positive about it, and we are also engaging with the Ministry of DoNER to secure funding for the project.”
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Highlighting the significance of the sector, Bajpayee pointed out that nearly 30 percent of Manipur’s population is directly impacted by the handloom and handicraft industry. He emphasised the urgent need for reforms to uplift artisans and weavers.
“This sector is completely unorganised, and we do not want our artisans to remain in this situation. This sector needs proper reforms and a push,” he said. “Our products have wide market potential, not just in India but across the globe. There is high demand.”
The idea of a textile park emerged during a recent meeting with the Union Secretary of the Ministry of Textiles. “She suggested we go for a textile park. We followed up on that and now we are moving in that direction,” Bajpayee said, expressing confidence that the project would soon become a reality.
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Alongside infrastructure development, the department is working to empower artisans and weavers with financial literacy and digital market skills. Bajpayee stressed the importance of training artisans to understand market dynamics, especially in the age of e-commerce.
“If an artisan registers on Amazon or any other platform, they need to understand how it works. It’s not enough to just sign up. We are working to ensure they are trained to take advantage of these opportunities,” he explained.
The department is also planning to set up Design and Innovation Studios where traditional weavers will collaborate with professional designers to create market-ready products without compromising on cultural identity.
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“We cannot depend only on the local market. If we want our artisans’ economic status to grow, we need to reach national and global markets,” said Bajpayee. “These studios will help develop designs that are globally acceptable while keeping our traditions alive at the core.”
Expressing hope and commitment, he added, “With the blessings of our artisans and weavers, we are confident that our efforts will succeed in uplifting this vital sector of Manipur’s economy.”
(Newmai News Network)