SFURTI for Garhchiga Traditional Handloom Cluster inaugurated in Lakhimpur

LAKHIMPUR: The Scheme of Fund for Re-generation of Traditional Industries (SFURTI) under Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Government of India, for Garhchiga Traditional Handloom Cluster was inaugurated by the Women Development Centre in Lakhimpur on Friday.

Notably, SFURTI has been sanctioned by the Ministry of MSME in its 33rd SSC Meeting held during March, 2020 to the Women Development Centre (WDC) of Guwahati as an implementing agency and it is a mission mode project. WDC will implement the aspiring project to empower women artisans in association with Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) and Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts- North East Region (EPCH-NER).

On the occasion of the inauguration of the scheme, a ceremonial programme-cum- awareness meeting, strictly following the COVID-19 protocol, was organized at the WDC Weaving Centre located at Gosanibari village under Naoboicha Development Block under the management of WDC Project Director Bhagywoti Bhuyan. It began with the lighting of the ceremonial lamps by the distinguished guests. LDM Pradip Kumar Khakhalary took part in the programme as the chief guest, who formally inaugurated the scheme and the Garhchiga Traditional Handloom Cluster.

"The artisans of Lakhimpur have maximum potential. Their skill of weaving and designing is unique and it is potent enough to be considered the best in the world. But they need entrepreneurship in order capture the national and international market for their products. I hope the SFURTI and the relentless endeavours of WDC will bring drastic change to the skills of traditional weavers by enhancing their quality and contribute immensely in the socio-economic development of the region," said LDM Pradip Kumar Khakhlari while delivering the inaugural speech.

DDM of NABARD Amlan Tamuli, Assistant Director of Sericulture Ajit Kumar Pathak, DIC Extension Officer Biswa Pradip Saikia, retired LDM Babul Hazarika and journalist Ranjit Kakati took part in the programme as guests of honour and resource persons of the awareness programme. They elaborated their views on promotion of traditional industries and the measures for women empowerment.

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