In Bihar, a large number of people are getting employment in the textile and handloom sector. Bihar Bhagalpuri silk, Khadi and exquisite products like Bawanbooty , Madhubani craft are popular in the textiles sector and have carved their niche in the market due to wide spread handloom industry in the state.
With a variety of products weavers under Khadi brand are fulfilling the needs of people at affordable cost. On the National Handlooms Day talking to Akashvani News Director of National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT, Patna) Colonel Rahul Sharma we have to devise a mechanism so that these poor weavers and artisans engaged in handloom and textile sectors get better prices for their products.
The Director said the handloom sector promotes our indigenous industry and they promote the Swadeshi brand.
Minister of State of External Affairs and Textiles Shri Pabitra Margherita, Minister of state for consumer affairs, food and Public distribution Smt. Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya, Member of Parliament Smt. Kangana Ranaut, Secretary Textiles Smt. Neelam Shami Rao, Additional Secretary, Textiles Shri Rohit Kansal, DC Handlooms Dr. M Beena, Members of Parliament from different constituencies and senior officials from ministry graced the event.
Foreign buyers, eminent personalities, exporters and around 650 weavers all across the country attended the function. The highlight of the celebration was the conferring of the prestigious Sant Kabir and National Handloom Awards to 24 outstanding master weavers, including six women and one Divyang artisan, in recognition of their contributions to the preservation, innovation, and excellence in India’s weaving tradition.
While addressing the event Union Minister, Shri Giriraj Singh, highlighted the growing importance of the textile sector in India’s economic landscape, stating that it has now emerged as the second-largest employment-generating sector in the country and Union minister extended his heartfelt congratulations to all National Handloom award winners.
Reiterating the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, the Minister underscored the need to promote entrepreneurship in the handloom sector, leveraging schemes such as the Mudra Yojana to empower weavers and small-scale entrepreneurs. He stressed on product diversification, promotion of natural fibres like ramie and linen, and support for second-generation handloom entrepreneurs, especially through the 797 handloom clusters across the country
Union Minister also stated that the Government is working towards protecting indigenous designs through cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Block chain, ensuring the intellectual property rights of Indian weavers and designers are safeguarded.
Shri Giriraj Singh urged the young generation to actively engage with the handloom industry, and called upon designers and weavers to collaborate in creating contemporary handloom products that appeal to youth across the country. Union Minister appealed to citizens to wear handloom at least once a week, supporting the rich tradition of Indian craftsmanship.