Rs 1000 crore for promotion of NE textile

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, JAN 29: Union Textile Minister Smriti Irani on Sunday informed that the centre has sanctioned over Rs 1000 crore for the development and promotion of textile sector in the north eastern region.

“The Ministry of Textile has sanctioned projects of over Rs 1040 crore for the NE region under the textile promotion schemes for handloom, handicrafts, sericulture which will add to the efforts of all our state governments,” she said.

Irani was addressing at the inaugural function of the first ever Investors’ Summit for the North East held in Shillong where 20 Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) were signed to promote investments in the region.

The union minister also announced the decision to engage master crafts persons from the NE region at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFTs) across the country from the next academic session.

“Let me announce that in the next academic session I will ensure that the master crafts persons from the region in handloom sector will help us to teach the children studying at NIFTs across the country for credit courses and will be paid and given the respect that they truly deserves,” she said.

She also complimented Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma who had earlier stated that these traditional handloom weavers are readymade skilled manpower which can become potential partners.

Informing that many handloom weavers in the country were not receiving the subsidy as they could not reach out  to the agencies assigned for giving subsidy, she informed that the ministry has now come up with E– Dhaga app which seeks to address the concerns of individual weavers relating to the availability of raw material, delays in supplies and ensuring stocks in depots.

She said the ministry earlier this month launched a helpline for handloom weavers wherein they can ask various queries and till now about the ministry  have responded to about 2500 queries.

Irani also announced that the Government of India is in a position to support sericulture in the region by infusing Rs 820 crore to boost employment opportunities.

“Our estimate is close to 3,95,000 families of which 70 percent are women will be impacted by these measures and will find employment opportunities across the region,” she said.

Stating that much has been done under the leadership of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she said there have been 20 major railway projects specifically for NE costing around Rs 52,000 crores invested by Centre to strengthen the infrastructures and investment opportunities in the region.

The Centre has also undertaken around 715 various development projects including tie ups countries like Bangladesh, China, Myanmar through economic corridors to ensure that the Act East Policy under the leadership of PM is something that fructifies, she added.

Asserting that technology today needs to be complimented with comprehensive development plans for the NE region, she said that centre will upgrade the telecommunication network of the entire region at a cost of Rs 5336 crore.

“I say these numbers today because they would reflect the results the Centre is doing to support the efforts of the NE region, to support the efforts of every CMs of every states so that we can create more and more employment opportunities across the entire region,” Irani stated.

Earlier in his speech, chief minister Mukul Sangma stressed on the need to connect the traditional weavers of the region with big business houses even as he added that government has identified some fibers which are indigenous to the region.

“Any industry should now look at Meghalaya. Though we have power challenges but we have come up with many reforms and we intend to provide 24X7 power supply at affordable tariff,” he said.

Union Minister of State for DoNER, Jitendra Singh who was also present on the occasion, said that the ministry has an annual outlay of Rs 1000  crores for the handloom  related project activities.

He further said that the ministry would now focus on training of artisans, creation of market avenues and setting up of raw materials for the benefit of handloom weavers.

Singh also announced that the ministry has taken a decision to provide initial venture capital fund for youngsters who wants to start entrepreneurship.

He said if the region makes use of its potentials in the handloom sector a day will not be far when the north east will become the most favoured destination for start-ups from all over India.

He also spoke various developmental projects like railways and upgradation of airports in the north east region.

On the other hand, Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said that things have improved in the NE region except for some bottleneck apart from security scenario that needs intervention from the government.

“The North East has contributed a lot to the growth of the nation but it needs to do more,” he said while also emphasizing the need to empower the women of the region.

He also said that central ministers have complaints about misused of funds with reasons and urged the states to ensure transparency and accountability which must be the hallmark of governance.

Later the Union Minister of Textile also launched the India Handmade Bazaar, a direct marketing portal for handloom weavers and handicraft artisans.