Imphal: Union ministry of Textile will set up a mega handloom cluster at the native village of Olympic silver medalist Saikohm Mirabai Chanu in Manipur’s Imphal East district.
Union minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, Piyush Goyal who arrived in Imphal on a two-day visit in the state announced the decision of his ministry in a speech after inauguration of a Thematic Exhibition of Crafts in Imphal’s City Convention on Saturday. Goyal also announced a handloom and handicraft village at Moirang in Bishnupur district where the INA hoisted tricolor flag for the first time in Indian soil.
He said that his ministry has decided to set up the mega handloom cluster at Nongpok Kakching, the native village of Olympic silver medalist Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, dedicating to her contribution for the nation coupled with Manipur’s contribution in production of handloom and handicraft productions in the country.
Chanu had ended India’s over two-decade long wait for a weightlifting medal at the Olympics, clinching the 49kg category silver medal at the Tokyo Games.
“India is proud of Mirabai Chanu. She has brought laurels to the nation. She is the jewel not only for the northeast region but also for India,” Goyal said.
The Union ministry of Textile is setting up the mega cluster at an estimated cost of Rs 30 crore under the National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP), the Union minister added.
While announcing the setting up of the mega handloom cluster, the Union minister expressed his desire for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lay the foundation stone of the project.
Piyush Goyal further announced setting up a handloom and handicraft village at Moirang in Bishnupur district.
He said that his ministry wanted to set up the handloom and handicraft village considering the historical significance of the place.
“It is to be set paying befitting tribute to the freedom fighters, particularly to the soldiers of the INA”, he said.
The Union minister who talked about the potential of the country in textile production said that Manipur’s textile product is well known not only in the country but also in the globe.
Keeping this in mind, his ministry was working hard for the development of the sector so that it contributes to making India a superpower country.
To realize the dream of making the country global power, a joint venture of all sectors is a must and the country is keeping full confidence with workers, farmers and other sections of the society to realize the dream, he said.
Earlier, the Union minister along with Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh and other ministers opened the thematic exhibition of crafts.
He also handed over a cheque of Rs 30 lakh to Mirabai Chanu, the handloom brand ambassador of Manipur from the Union ministry of Textile.
Mother of Mirabai, Saikhom Tombi Leima received the cheque on behalf of her daughter.
The Union minister further distributed tool kits, pehchan cards, Manipur yard cards, loom certificates and weaver mudra loan to the selected weavers of the state.
Before this, the Union minister also interacted and attended the first Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas to mark the celebration of Bhagwan Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary at Kalyan Ashram in Imphal.
NNN
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