Union Minister of State for Textiles Panabaka Lakshmi has said the domestic textile sector was recovering from the recession blues and showing positive growth
“The textile sector was largely supported by the robust domestic market as exports had turned weak following meltdown in several foreign countries,” she told Business Standard on the sidelines of Silk Fab 2010 exhibition here.
She said her department would be organising about 500 marketing events in the country to promote handloom textiles.
“We will also organise fashion shows to showcase handloom textiles. Recently, such shows were held at Delhi, Chennai and Guwahati,” Lakshmi informed.
Exhibitions and buyers-sellers meets are being organised in the USA, Italy, Germany, Japan and other countries to promote India’s famed handloom product line.
Besides, the textiles ministry has tied-up with several organised retailers, such as Fab India and Lifestyle, for selling handloom apparels.
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The domestic handloom sector employs almost 6.5 million people. To promote the sector, the Centre is following the cluster development scheme, wherein a cluster is formed among 300-500 weavers/societies and provided with funds and technological support.
Uttar Pradesh had been sanctioned two mega clusters, Moradabad and Varanasi. “A total fund of Rs 70 crore would be provided to Moradabad, of which Rs 5 crore has already been released,” she said.
To augment development of handloom sector and provide marketing support, National Handloom Development Corporation organises Silk Fab expos in various cities every year.These expos support handloom weavers by providing financial support required for the infrastructure and publicity for holding these events.
Artisans and primary handloom weavers cooperative societies from 15 states, mostly Bihar, are participating in Silk Fab 2010, which was earlier inaugurated by Lakshmi.