Development Commissioner (Handlooms) undertakes various initiatives in “100 Days Programmes”

The office of Development Commissioner (Handlooms) under the aegis of the Ministry of Textiles under its “100 Days Programme” undertook initiatives like 10^th National Handloom Day celebration, Up-skilling in 100 Clusters and completion of Craft Handloom Villages at Sharan (Himachal Pradesh) & Kanihama (J&K).

The 10^th “National Handloom Day” was celebrated on 7^th August, 2024 inaugurated by the Vice President of India Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. During the event 5 Sant Kabir Handloom Awards and 17 National Handloom Awards for 2023 were presented by the Vice President.

It was followed by presentation of a fashion show by NIFT on Handloom sector and unveiling of the award list containing details of award winners and unveiling of a coffee table book titled “Parampara Aur Paryavaran” by the Union Minister of Textiles Shri Giriraj Singh, followed by distribution of certificates to the beneficiaries of various interventions under the schemes of Office of DC (Handlooms) and felicitation of 5 best performing Weavers Service Centres (WSCs).

The event concluded with the workshop on Saree Trends and Market Demand, “IndiaHandmade” Portal. Along with this, National Handloom Day was celebrated by WSCs, IIHTs, NHDC Offices and State Governments across the country.

A special Handloom Sourcing Show was also launched by HEPC at Varanasi which continued till 9^th ​​August. Other events like “Virasat-An Exclusive Handloom Exhibition” at Handloom Haat, Janpath, New Delhi, “Know Your Weave” campaign at Crafts Museum and “Virasat-My Handloom My Pride Exhibition 2024” at Delhi Haat have been conducted. There has also been a quiz on handloom on the MyGov portal.

“The Bunkar & Karigar Utthan Programme” was launched in hundred handloom and handicraft clusters across the country for up-skilling weavers and artisans of the clusters. The programme was inaugurated by the Minister of State for Textiles, Shri Pabitra Margherita, on 27^th July 2024. Under this programme fifty-six design and skill upgradation training programmes were started, to impart trainings to 1527 weavers (with 100% saturation) across the identified handloom clusters. The weavers were provided trainings to upskill their knowledge of weaving practice which ultimately enhance their production and earning.

In-principle approval has been accorded for a Special project namely ‘Development of Silk industry in Bhagalpur, Bihar’ with GoI share of Rs.12 crore. 14 handloom clusters in Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar and Manipur States have been taken up for financial assistance covering 4,513 beneficiaries at a cost of Rs.26.06 crore.

Lastly, the work of two significant infrastructural projects viz. Craft Handloom Villages at Sharan (Himachal Pradesh) and Kanihama (J&K) has been completed. The infrastructure projects were designed to support the traditional weavers of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, promote sustainable livelihoods, and enhance the socio-economic status of the weavers. The Craft Handloom Village is a new concept of combining living craft ecosystem with tourism. These villages house approx. three hundred weavers who live, work, and sell their products at the same location. The key objective is to ensure livelihood security for weavers while connecting the village with tourist circuits to increase craft visibility and sales. The village has been provided with upgraded infrastructure including common display & exhibition areas, workspaces and improved housing.