Tura, June 25: The Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Zenith Sangma and Minister of Sericulture and Weaving Clement Marak jointly distributed yarns and looms to the weavers of Garobadha and Selsella areas at a function organized by the department of Sericulture & Weaving near Garobadha on Saturday afternoon.
The scheme for distribution of yarns and looms under Income Generation Programme for weavers was sanctioned in 2015-2016 in order to revive the age-old tradition of weaving by women-folk in the State. During the programme, yarns were distributed to weavers at one kg each while handloom sets were given to 10 registered groups of weavers from the area.
In his address, Zenith Sangma said that the state government was committed to promote weaving sector in the state and create viable opportunities to women weavers through technology and skill upgradation. Although weaving is linked to tradition there is a huge gap between demand and supply and therefore it becomes a good livelihood opportunity, he said.
Minister for Sericulture & Weaving Clement Marak urged upon the weavers to keep alive their tradition of weaving and pass it down to the next generations. He called for improvement in the quality of their products with latest designs and technology and expressed hope that through this Income Generation Programme, the weavers can have better livelihood and improve their standard of living.
Earlier, Director of Sericulture and Weaving, S.K. Barchung in his keynote address, said that the programme is aimed at raising the earning capabilities of the weavers. He informed that out of 30,000 identified weavers in the State maximum of them were concentrated in Garo Hills and called upon the weavers to form groups and register themselves to avail handloom sets so that they can start their own
small production units.
