Nagaland observes National Handloom Day

Our Reporter
Dimapur, Aug. 7 (EMN): Office of the Development Commissioner (Handlooms) Weavers’ Service Centre, Dimapur, government of India, celebrated the 7th National Handloom Day at Weavers’ Service Centre in Toluvi village on Saturday.

Addressing the celebration as chief guest, the director of Industry and Commerce, government of Nagaland, K Hokishe Assumi, said that handloom has huge potential but the state faces marketing problems due to low quality production. Observing that many weavers were still practising traditional mode, Assumi has advocated adopting flying shuttle looms for large scale production.

He also advised the gathering to understand one another and share ideas to improve their quality and also encourage those NGOs that are genuinely doing good things for the people.

Also speaking on the occasion, assistant director (weaving) of Development Commissioner (Handlooms) Weavers’ Service Centre, Dimapur, Naresh Jambhulkar, said that products from the Northeast have lot of scopes and informed that exhibitions are organised in different parts of India from time to time sponsored by the government.

Jambhulkar urged the weavers especially from the Northeast to participate in the exhibition melas, which are sponsored by the government of India.

The general manager of NHHDC Ltd., Dimapur, Narola Alemba Jamir briefed about the legacy of handloom in India. She informed that the first National Handloom Day was inaugurated on August 7, 2015, by the prime minister of India Narendra Modi to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Swadeshi Movement.

Jamir added that after agriculture, the handloom sector in India is the second largest source of employment for the people. According to the survey report of 4th handloom census, she stated that around 31.45 lakh households were engaged in handloom weaving activities.