IMPHAL, October 30: A special Handloom Expo 2011 and Gandhi Shilp Bazar 2011 kicked off today at the Eastern Students’ Club sports complex, Nongmeibung.
The inauguration function was attended by commerce and industry minister Y Erabot, principal secretary commerce and industry O Nabakishore, director commerce and industry V Tualthang, assist director handicrafts T Rollee Vareishim and assist director weaving Kommu Rabindra as chief guest, president and guests of honour respectively.
Addressing the inaugural function, minister Y Erabot mentioned that the stall owners of the expo should try to maintain quality in their products so as to entertain the customers.
“There are still some indigenous products of the state which cannot be produced by machine, even though the world has advanced so much that there are hardly anything that a machine cannot produce. The artisans should preserve such products of the state” the minister added.
He further informed that handloom artisans from the state will be participating at a similar handloom fair at Bangladesh on popular demand. Among the handloom products of the state which will be showcased at the Bangladesh fair, hand-made saree of the state is the most popular, he further informed.
Minister Erabot further criticized the government for trying to evict the children home at Lei-ingkhol and the women’s home at Nongmeibung. Further elaborating on the issue, he stated that the government should first provide proper re-habilitation of the inmates of the homes before eviction.
Meanwhile, 50 stalls from various parts of the state are participating the special handloom expo 2011 selling various products and another 150 stalls are opened selling various indigenous as well as other products in the Gandhi Shilp Bazar 2011.
