A one day strategic meeting on handloom promotion of the North East region was organised by the APJ Abdul Kalam Centre for Policy Research and Analysis at IIM Shillong yesterday.
The event was held with the support from the Development Commissioner (Handloom) in the Union Ministry of Textiles and National Institute of Fashion Technology, Shillong as knowledge partner.
Sanjeev Ningombam, the centre coordinator of the Kalam Centre, stated that the purpose of the strategic meeting on handloom promotion is to address stakeholder concerns while concentrating on the agenda item of ‘Textiles as Driver of NER Economy’.
There was an exclusive session on idea exchange where stakeholders presented their ideas and best practices.
Participating in the day-long discussion were resource persons and representatives from the business world, governmental organisations, educational institutions, training centres, and around 150 students. Several prominent figures from the region’s handloom industry were represented in the discussion, including Lovely Baruah, Jesmina Zeliang, Mitrani Kakti, Koijan Mantri, Yangoijam Maxwell, Zosangliana Hangzo, James Evantis Dkhar and C Lalthlenmawia, to name a few.
Speakers discussed various perspectives on promoting handloom by focusing on the unique identity and culture of specific tribes’ weaving traditions. It was discussed at length to integrate culture and tradition with commerce through design intervention and innovation. This approach aimed to not only preserve the heritage of these tribes but also create sustainable livelihood opportunities for the weavers. By combining traditional techniques with contemporary designs, it was believed that handloom products could appeal to a wider market and ensure the economic empowerment of these communities.
The North East has the highest concentration of handlooms, with 14.6 lakh units in five states. Despite its rich cultural heritage and traditional craftsmanship, the region faces challenges in commercial production and fabric output. Improving infrastructure, market access, and skill development can help harness the region’s potential, a press release said today.
