IMPHAL, July 8: State Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh today distributed cheques and laptops to beneficiaries of HEDA, Clusters and CDP during a function at the MFDC Auditorium Hall organized by the Department of Commerce & Industry and Department of Sericulture today district Speaking as the chief guest, CM Ibobi Singh said that Manipur sericulture project phase II will be started with Central Govt funding while further adding that the economy of Manipur could be improved by exporting ethnic handloom items to the international market however, quality control in term of design and craftsmanship is necessary. Moreover, it is also necessary to replace the production of handlooms by power looms so as to get large scale production which will not only export weaving items but also create jobs for the local weavers, he said.
He further appealed to the people of Manipur to extend cooperation in bringing peace and development before adding that development is not possible without peace.He said, the government has its doors wide open for talks with the insurgent groups.Commerce and Industry, Minister Govindas Konthoujam said that the government is now planning to distribute solar home lighting system to the weavers so as to increase their production while appealing to the weavers to improve work culture adding that the cocoon production of the State in the current year is to target to reach one lakh metric ton against the present 0.64 metric ton.In today’s function, cheques amounting to Rs 3.20 to Rs 5.00 lakhs to each of 22 handloom entrepreneurs under Handloom Export Development Approach (HEDA).Laptops, printers, generators etc were also distributed to 17 handloom clusters under Computer Aided Textile Design (CATD) while cheques were also distributed to sericulture beneficiaries for silkworm plantation and silkworm raring house construction under Catalytic Development Program.The principal secretary of Commerce and Industry, O Nabakishwor Singh and the Directors of the Department of Sericulture and Department of Commerce and Industries also attended the function.