Ministry of Textiles Celebrates 7th National Handloom Day on August 07, 2021

Ministry of Textile will celebrate 7^th National Handloom Day on August 07, 2021. On this day, the handloom weaving community is honoured and the contribution of this sector in the socio-economic development of this country is highlighted. The resolve to protect our handloom heritage and to empower the handloom weavers and workers with greater opportunities is reaffirmed. This year, Ministry of Textiles will organize a function to celebrate the Day at Convention Centre, The Ashok, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. The event will be presided over by Union Minister of Textiles, Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs& Food and Public DistributionShri PiyushGoyal and   Minister of State  for Textiles  and Railways Smt. DarshanaJardosh will be Guest of Honour. Secretary Textiles, Shri U. P. Singh will also participate in the event.

In the 75th year of independence, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has urged all of us as a nation to buy Indian Handloom products and showcase their grandeur by associating with #MyHandloomMyPride.

A symbol of our country’s rich and varied cultural heritage, Handloom is an important sector providing livelihood in rural and semi-rural parts of our country. It is a sector that directly addresses women’s empowerment with over 70% of all weavers and allied workers being female.One of the defining movements in our struggle for freedom was Swadeshi Movement. Launched on 7th August, 1905, the movement encouraged indigenous industries and the spirit of Swadeshi, which included handloom weavers as well. In 2015, the Government of India decided to designate the 7^th August every year, as the National Handloom Day (NHD.) The first NHD was inaugurated on August 07, 2015 by thePrime Minister Narendra Modi in Chennai. Functions celebrating NHD have since been held at Varanasi, Guwahati, Jaipur and Bhubaneshwar. The Government of India endeavours to ensure sustainable development of the handloom sector thereby empowering our handloom weavers and workers financially and instilling pride in their exquisite craftsmanship.

Three Handloom Craft Villages  atKovalam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala , Mohpara Village, District Golaghat, Assam and Kanihama, Budgam, Srinagar  are being  set up by  Ministry of Textiles in collaboration with the respective State governments. The aim behind setting up the craft villages at these places is to provide additional attraction for the domestic and international tourists and promote the well-known Handloom & Handicraft Products of the region.

Following activities have been plannedthrough VC on the occasion of 7^th National Handloom Day at New Delhi:

• i. Inauguration of Design Resource Centre (DRCs) at Kancheepuram

ii. Showcasing of Handloom Villages being developed by Development Commissioner (Handlooms) at:

1. Kovalam (Dist. Thiruananthpuram, Kerala)
2. Mohpara (Dist. Golaghat, Assam)
3. Kanihama (Dist. Budgam, J&K)

iii. Virtual Buyer Seller Meet by National Handloom Development Corporation (NHDC)

iv. Inauguration of building of Weavers’ Service Centre (WSCs) at RaigarhDesign Resource Centres (DRCs) are being established by NIFT in all WSCs in a phased manner, wherein vast inventory of designs and resources will be available for use by exporters, Manufacturers, Designers, Weavers and other stake holders.

On the clarion call of the Prime Minister, National level – “My Handloom My Pride Expo” is being organized at DilliHaat, INA, New Delhi from 1st August to 15th August 2021 by National Handloom Development Corporation (NHDC) to celebrate the 7th National Handloom Day.Handloom Producer Companies and weavers are   showcasing and displaying handloom products from handloom Clusters/pockets from across the Country for sale. 125 plus Handloom agencies/ National awardees belonging to 22 states are participating in the Expo. The exhibition will be open to public from 11 am to 8 pm for fifteen days upto August 15, 2021 and more than 10000 people are expected to visit the exhibition.

Handloom products drawn from some of the exotic locations of India are on display and sale at the exhibition. A brief list is given below: –

From 7^th to 11^th August 2021  #MyHandloomMyPride Expo will also be organised by Handloom Export Promotion Council at Community Hall,New Motibagh, near Hotel Leela Palace.

Besides, local functions will be organized at all Weavers’ Service Centres, Indian Institutes of Handloom Technology, Offices of National Handloom Development Corporation, Handloom Exports Promotion Council, NIFT Campuses, State Govt Handloom Departments and Handloom Clusters. A Quiz each for students and general public on Handlooms is being organized by MyGov Portal from 7^th to 11^th August and from 19^th to 22^nd August,2021.

The details about major Handloom producing States and number of   handloom weavers and workers are given below:

4^th All India Handloom Census (2019-20)

Major Handloom States