Handloom industry plays a dominant role in the cultural and economic development of the rural masses in majority of the North-Eastern States. The hand-woven textile plays a significant role in making social and cultural distinctiveness, rituals and surroundings. This region has the highest concentration and a rich heritage of handlooms in the country.
Weaving is a traditional occupation for a broad range of social groups in Northeast States. The Northeast States has tremendous potential in promoting handloom sector as a trademark of the ethnicity because the region has been widely praised for their indigenous variety and interesting use of colour play and motifs.
Handloom sector has high potential to grow further with focused approach while matching with the modern aspects of living hood. Textile industry is one emerging sector that has generated huge employment for the skilled and unskilled labours. North Eastern Region is one area where it has huge potential for investments particulary in the field of textiles and handicrafts.
National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC) is a fully owned Government of India Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJ&E). NSFDC was incorporated in 1989 as a Section 25 Company (not-for-profit) of the Companies Act, 1956 [Now, a Section 8 Company of the Companies Act, 2013]. The broad objective of NSFDC is financing, facilitating and mobilizing funds for the economic empowerment of persons belonging to the scheduled caste communities living below Double the Poverty Line (DPL) limit [Presently, annual family income up to Rs.98,000/- per annum for rural areas and up to Rs.1,20,000/- per annum for urban areas].
National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC) undertakes Skill Development Programmes for the year 2017-18. Under the leadership of Smt. Chirom Indira (National Awardee), Proprietor/CEO and Project Manager Mr. W. Joyshankar Luwang of Chanu Creations, Thangmeiband (Manipur) has providing 300 Hours – Fresh Training at Kaki Tangiya, Nagaon District of Assam for skill development training to Schedule Caste Candidates on Two Shaft Handloom Weaver in collaboration with Textile Sector Skill Council (TSC). The training programme has been started from 26th December, 2017. On the other hand, Chanu Creations has also providing the same training programme at Gouranagar, Hojai District of Assam.
As the market is globalised, the region also imports clothes and other textiles at cheap rate. Thus, traditional weavers are lagging behind in relation to cost, durability and design in their products. Hence weavers need to upgrade their skill and technology levels to face the changing market structure.
This Press Release was sent by Handlooms Promotion Council, who can be contacted at hpcmanipur2005(at)gmail(dot)com.
