HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, April 1: Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has called upon handloom entrepreneurs-cum-designers to consult top designers for preparing a catalogue of Assam silk products like ‘muga’ and ‘eri’ to attract global customers.
Silk products of Assam like ‘muga’ and ‘eri’ are in great demand in the global market but diversification is required to tap its full potential, he said.
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Inaugurating a Golden Silk Park & Commercial Centre at Resham Nagar in Khanapara area, here on Saturday, the chief minister urged the people of the state to buy at least one handloom ‘gamosa’ (traditional scarf or towel) during the coming Rongali Bihu to encourage weavers in the state.
While there has been some diversification, constant improvement is needed to capture the global market, he added.
“We have been seeing the same design of muga necktie for the last 20 years. Only making new products will not help unless we constantly improve them.
“For this the handloom and textiles department should make a diversified design catalogue and consult top designers of the country,” Sarma said.
Urging people to procure gamosas from the local weavers for the coming Bihu, he said, “There are 60 lakh families in our state. If each of them buy even one handwoven gamosa, it will be a big help for the weavers and our economy. At the same time, I ask the people to alert the authorities if anyone is found selling powerloom gamosas.”
The state government has imposed restrictions on selling of powerloom gamosas and ‘mekhela-sadors’ (traditional Assamese women attire) in order to encourage the handloom sector.
He further appealed to the members of the general public to remain vigilant against the selling of powerloom-produced gamusas.
The chief minister further added that the Assamese gamusa bagging the Geographical Indications (GI) tag, coupled with numerous initiatives of the Government of Assam aimed at strengthening the handloom sector have led to build-up of a newfound confidence among the handloom entrepreneurs of the state.
Sarma asked the handloom department to come up with more schemes for the industry and weavers and pledged the government’s support for it.
He appealed to the Handloom & Textiles Department to launch a massive publicity drive to make the “Swanirbhar Nari” scheme a household name across the length and breadth of the state.
Apart from providing silkworm breeding to silkworm farmers, this initiative by the Handloom & Textiles and Sericulture Department would also provide a platform to indigenous silk weavers to sell their produce.
The event was also attended by Handloom and textiles minister U.G. Brahma, departmental secretary Dilip Kumar Bora, chief executive of “APART” Akash Deep and a host of other dignitaries.
