Nongpoh/Shillong, Dec 6: Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Saturday announced the establishment of a new Weavers’ Service Centre (WSC) in Meghalaya.
Inaugurating the Integrated Textile & Tourism Centre (ITTC) in Nongpoh, he said the northeast currently has only one such facility, located in Guwahati and the government is looking at setting up another in the State once the government allots land.
He said the WSC is a vital hub offering technical and design support to weavers and the centre requires 10,000 sq ft of land for the purpose.
Emphasising the region’s comparative advantage, he stated, “I am fully confident that the North East can become a major buyer-seller hub. From Guwahati, it takes just one hour to reach natural silk production centres. This is a unique strength.”
According to him the Northeast is the pride of India’s textile heritage. He said that the region is the land of Muga, Eri and traditional weaving excellence even as he added that the centre is committed to strengthening every link of the textile value chain in this region right from cocoon to global markets.
The Minister highlighted that the ITTC will serve as an integrated platform for training, design development, silk processing, product diversification and tourism, enabling Meghalaya’s artisans to access national and international opportunities. He noted that the Government of India is implementing multiple schemes to support handloom clusters, improve raw material availability, modernize weaving technologies and promote natural fibres globally.
The Minister announced new efforts to boost farmers’ income. “Today we discussed moving from two Muga crops to three, so farmers can double their income. One acre can yield four to five lakh rupees with best practices. The Central Silk Board and the State Sericulture Department will work together to make this a reality.”
He emphasised the need to build an ecosystem that unlocks the region’s full potential stating, “India is the only country producing different silks – Muga, Tasar, Mulberry and Eri. If Meghalaya and the North East scale up Muga and Eri, India can become a global leader, especially as other countries shift to synthetics.”
The Union Minister also highlighted the Government’s commitment to building a strong textile and sericulture ecosystem in the Northeast.
Highlighting the Ministry’s livelihood-focused initiative, Singh said, “My goal is to connect every weaver to an income of fifty thousand rupees per month – this is our ‘Pachlakhia Didi’ model. We have prepared the roadmap and we will implement it in Meghalaya with the State Government’s support.”
The Union Minister also interacted with master weavers and local producers, who expressed gratitude for the new facility, noting that the ITTC will help them access training, raw material support and better market opportunities.
Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Textiles, Pabitra Margherita, highlighted the significant presence of Northeast artisans on global platforms.
He recalled, “At BharatTex recently – one of the largest textile events in the world, over two lakh industry stakeholders and 6,000 international buyers participated. On that same stage, a weaver from a remote village in Meghalaya presented their fabric with pride.”
Margherita emphasised that 52 per cent of India’s handlooms are located in the Northeast, making the region one of the strongest textile clusters in the country. He also informed that all textile ministers from across India will convene in Guwahati next month to deliberate on a Northeast-focused textile development agenda.
Meghalaya Minister of Textiles Metbah Lyngdoh expressed gratitude to the Ministry for supporting the State’s aspirations.
Describing the ITTC as a “historic and transformative project”, he said, “This Centre represents the coming together of tradition, skill and vision for Meghalaya’s cultural and economic future. It will empower artisans, revive our rich silk heritage, and position Nongpoh as a unique destination for textile tourism.”
Lyngdoh highlighted that the ITTC, built under the North East Regional Textile Promotion Scheme, has been envisioned as an artisan empowerment hub, a living museum for Ryndia, Eri and Muga silk, a centre for training, design development and product innovation, and a textile-tourism destination that will directly benefit local communities.
Frederick Kharkongor, Principal Secretary, Textiles, highlighted the significance of the new Integrated Textile & Tourism Centre (ITTC). He described the new facility as a symbol of Meghalaya’s textile renaissance. He said, “The Integrated Textile Tourism Centre – ITTC – is an acronym that tells its own story.”
Elaborating on its meaning, he added, “The Ts represent Textile, Trade and Tourism, and they also speak to Texture and Tradition. The C stands for Craft, Cuisine and Culture. Together, ITTC brings all these elements under one roof, creating a space that reflects the full spectrum of Meghalaya’s textile identity.”
Kharkongor also highlighted key milestones, including the recent GI recognition.
