Govt looks to uplift handloom sector in state

SHILLONG, Aug 4: One of the largest unorganised sectors in Meghalaya, the handloom sector has in recent times seen an upsurge in the number of weavers and some have even taken it up as their primary economic activity. Considering this rise, the Department of Textiles, Meghalaya government, has decided to provide a boost to this sector.
It has invited applications from handloom/sericulture units to provide a helping hand so as to streamline the industry.
With this, the department aims to streamline and coordinate the economic activities of the weavers by encouraging them to take advantage of the latest technologies so as to facilitate good remunerative prices by enhancing the salability of their products.
It also aims to facilitate marketing of handloom/diversified handloom products through e-commerce channels and integrate all weavers to sell their products directly thereby removing middlemen.
The department is also looking to provide latest technical knowhow to the weavers and aids and assists in scientific farming of cri/muga species and other indigenous varieties of silk.
As per the 4 all India Handloom Census (2019-2020), the number of weavers in the state has crossed 42,000-mark and the number of active looms recorded are 43,220.