Handloom holds key for Assam economy: CM Sarbananda Sonowal

SIPINI SAMAROH 2021

GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday attended Sipini Samaroh (Weavers' Conclave) organized by Handloom and Textiles Department, Government of Assam at Sarusajai Sports Complex and said that weavers of Assam must strive to create demand of their products at national and international levels. He also stressed on the need to keep state's handloom market under the control of the local weavers.

Saying that weavers must become 'atmanirbhar' through economic independence, Sonowal stated that Assam is home to largest number of weavers in the country and efforts must be taken to develop standards of indigenous materials like eri and muga. Handloom holds the key for strengthening the state's economy and survey of production, value addition and marketing chain must be conducted to estimate the requirement of clothing materials, he said.

The Chief Minister also laid emphasis on incorporating modern innovations of science and technology in weaving of handloom and said that value addition must be done with creative thinking to enhance the appeal of the products. Sonowal said that the State's biodiversity, natural beauty must be reflected by the handloom products and State's handloom department participated not only in domestic but also in trade fair in Bangladesh.

He called on the weavers to strive for capturing the markets of Bangladesh along with other neighbouring countries and stressed on the need to incorporate latest technologies while not depending solely on traditional techniques. Chief Minister Sonowal said that an example has to be set for women empowerment through development of textile industry in the State. He also said that the younger generation has to be motivated to get involved in textile industry. He said that if the dedicated efforts are put in place to unlock the true potential then only handloom can be grown rapidly.

Handloom and Textiles Minister Ranjit Dutta said that handloom and textiles sector is biggest employer after agriculture and highlighted steps of state government like setting up of handloom training centres, providing threads at subsidised rates, opening thread banks etc.

West Guwahati MLA Ramendra Narayan Kalita also spoke at the programme where Secretary of Handloom and Textiles Atika Sultana gave the welcome address in presence of several dignitaries such as GDD Minister Siddhartha Bhattacharya, Revenue and Disaster Department Minister Jogen Mohan among others. On the other hand, the Chief Minister presented awards to several weavers for their skills and distributed solar lamps, weaving equipment etc among beneficiaries.

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