On the launch of ‘my handloom portal’ by Union Minister Smriti Irani, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma decides to enhance the livelihood of the people with skilled hands in different sericulture and weaving clusters.
‘My handloom portal’ is a one step go to gather any information on information on everything related to handloom. The portal is intended to provide enhancement transparency and increasing efficiency of weavers and other stakeholders to track applications in real time.
Honorable Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma says “We salute our Handloom Weavers who make commendable efforts to preserve the vibrant indigenous handloom and handicrafts sector of our nation”. He mentions in his discussion that the state produces “Ahimsa Silk”, which is unique. thew silk is produce in the clusters in most non-violent breeding and harvesting method. He says that the practice of weaving and sericulture can lead to poverty alleviation, since its labour intensive, less strenuous, requires less capital and has a good market. along with every other benifits it can also lead to tremendous of women empowerment. The women performs activities ranging from Silkworm rearing, Silk Reeling/ Spinning to Weaving in their own houses, besides attending to other household activities.
The state is implementing 3 (three) central schemes. It will undertake the Integrated Scheme for Development of Eri Silk Industry in Ri-Bhoi District (Aspirational District). The first scheme will cover up the financial assistance for raising of Eri Food plants.The second one will provide assistance for construction of Rearing House, Supply of Rearing equipments, Financial assistance for establishment of Eri Private Graineurs ,establishment of a Cocoon Bank, besides Equipment support for establishment of a Modern Spinning Unit, as a precursor to value addition. The third scheme will provide job opportunities for unemployed localyouth. So far, 128 numbers of student graduates from Handloom Training Institute, Indian Institute of Handloom Technology and National Institution of Fashion Technology have been engaged as Cluster Development Executive and Textile Designers.
Currently, the project has integrated the Textile Tourism Complex at Nongpoh, which aims at both augmenting and leveraging the textile based tourism by setting up necessary infrastructure, comprising of traditional style cottages, restaurants, food court and emporium,for showcasing and marketing the diverse & rich handloom products of the State.
