IMPHAL, November 8: The Ningol Chakkouba Festive Fair 2012 organized by the District Handlooms & Textiles, Imphal West began today at the Yumnam Leikai Lairembi Lampak.
Altogether 119 different stalls are taking part in the fair representing different districts of Manipur.
The inaugural function today was attended by Commerce & Industries, Sericulture Minister Govindas Konthoujam, PHED, Labour & Employment, Minister Irengbam Hemochandra Singh, Additional Director, Commerce & Industries V Tualthang and project manager, District Handlooms & Textiles, Imphal West M Rajen Singh as chief guest, president and guests of honour respectively.
Speaking at the function, Minister Govindas informed that a mega handloom park will be coming up soon at Lamboi Khongnangkhong in Imphal East district at the cost of Rs 70 crore under the sponsorship of Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.
He said Additional Commissioner, Handloom and Handicrafts, Government of India had visited Imphal on October 19 and inspected the present development of handloom and handicraft in the state.
During the visit, the Additional Commissioner had expressed satisfaction on the current status of handloom and handicrafts of the state and assured that he would urge the Ministry of Textiles to establish a mega handloom park in Manipur, he further said.
A number of jobs have been provided by cluster schemes in the state, Govindas informed and said presently, there are 2.18 lakh weavers and 1.86 lakh looms in the state.
If men also start contributing, we will easily top in the handloom sector in the country which we are now in third position.
He also announced that Manipur will take part at the handloom Expo to be held at Prakitri Maidan, New Delhi on November 14. The state will also participate at the exclusive Home Furnishing Mela to be held in February 2013 at a five-star hotel in New Delhi, he further informed.
Minister I Hemochandra, speaking at the function, said that the highest thing which Manipur ever has is the handloom sector and this is also the industry sector of every household in the state.
He also expressed the need to have a check on quality control to be able to export in international markets.