HT Correspondent
KOKRAJHAR, Aug 8: The 8th National Handloom Day and Mega Weavers Meet-2022-23 was celebrated with day-long programme at Integrated Textile Park, Kharuajan, near Mushalpur in Baksa district on Sunday.
The event was organised by the Government of Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) government in association with the Handloom & Textile department.
Union minister of state for Textile and Railway department, Darshana Vikram Jardosh graced the programme as chief guest. During the event, best weavers were conferred with awards, Pehchan Cards, weaving training certificates were distributed among the weavers by the Union minister.
Minister Jardosh also planted a sapling at the Integrated Textile Park complex followed by Assam cabinet minister Urkhao Gwra Brahma. Jayanta Malla Baruah, BTR CEM Pramod Boro also planted saplings on the occasion.
In her speech, minister Jardosh said, “Handloom and textile is our identity and developmental aspects of the peoples of the region as well as the country.” She emphasised on exploring the handloom and textile sector across the state through which local artisans and weavers will get opportunities to earn livelihood. She said that locally produced textile clothes are always getting priority in markets.
Minister Jardosh announced Rs 50 crores financial assistance to the Integrated Textile Park Kharuajan of Baksa to make more developmental infrastructure in Bodoland region.
She also opined that the Union government has stepped up for setting up handloom villages in various places across the Bodoland region and Centre is proposing to sanction several thousand crores of financial assistance to the BTR government in days to come.
She also announced that the Udalguri & Kokrajhar railway station would be connected with handlooms with attractive tourist themes to explore the handloom products.
BTR CEM Pramod Boro said, “There are over 3 lakh weavers involved in the handloom and weaving sector across the region. The BTR government has so far initiated the Bodoland Handloom Mission. Handloom is our identity, handloom is our culture and tradition through which we are getting opportunities to create a healthy earning space.”
Among others, BTR speaker Katiram Boro, BTR deputy CEM Gabinda Chandra Basumatary, MLAs Lawrence Islary, Jayanta Basumatary, Bhupen Boro, BTR executive members Rakesh Brahma, Ghanashyam Das, Gautam Das, Ukil Mushahary, Reoreoa Narzihary, Diganta Baruah were prominent attendees on the occasion.