Selsella: Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma today inaugurated a common facility centre-cum-handloom production unit in this town in West Garo Hills in a bid to provide local weavers an opportunity to start their own ventures.

The unit was set up as part of a special initiative of the state government launched in 2013 to promote weaving.

The state sericulture and weaving department has established 10 such units, of which six are in Garo hills.

Speaking after the inauguration, Mukul said, “Weaving is linked to traditional skills and my government is committed to provide a viable opportunity for women weavers with technology and skill upgrade.”

He said in 2013, the Union ministry of textiles had approved a special project for the weavers in Meghalaya, which was later adopted in the rest of the country.

However, the NDA government has modified the programme which is not “workable”. He added, “I am little unhappy as the programme has been dislocated from the ground. Establishment of such units in remote areas will give scope to women entrepreneurs in hilly areas.”

On the successful production of fabric from ramie plant, he said, “We have discovered a god-gifted plant, which will give our farmers new opportunities for livelihood.”

He said ramie fabric could be used for production of different apparel, which can carry latest designs and be branded. “We have to brand our products made of ramie and popularise the stories of our textile. There is a huge demand for handloom products locally as well as globally and we have to grab the opportunity,” he said.

On the gap in demand and supply of dakmanda (garment worn by Garo women), he said, “There is a demand in the market but we have not been able to meet it. Our people have lost interest in weaving dakmanda.”

Urging locals weavers to train at the unit, the chief minister said, “It is high time they learn the skills and take up weaving as a means of livelihood. The government is willing to provide all necessary expertise to train weavers.”

Director of sericulture and weaving Bakul Ch. Hajong said Meghalaya has 35,000 weavers, which constitutes 1.1 per cent of the population.

He said the state has fewer number of weavers compared to other northeastern states. To promote weavers, the department has established 72 handloom clusters, out of which nine big clusters are in Garo hills.

“We have set a target so that our weavers can earn a minimum of Rs 5,000 per month by the end of 2017-18,” said Hajong.

He added that the government’s programme is to raise the earning of the weavers and provide them technology and designing facilities.

Power minister and local MLA Clement Marak said Garo women might have lost interest in weaving.

He urged the women to revive their traditional knowledge and take up weaving as an alternative employment.

Deputy commissioner Pravin Bakshi termed the initiative a “brilliant” effort.

(This appeared in The Telegraph on Feb 18,2016)