The Centre has approved 7 new mini-handloom clusters in Orissa. These clusters are located in Padmapur, Bhatli, Bhuden (Baragarh), Athamallik, Kendarapara, Narasinghpur and Gopalpur (Jajpur).
With the approval of these 7 mini-handloom clusters, the total number of mini-handloom clusters in the state has increased to 23 from 16 earlier, sources said.
Boyanika, an apex cooperative body of weavers, will be vested with the task of implementing these mini clusters and the state government will appoint cluster development executive for this purpose. About Rs 60 lakh is proposed to be spent for every cluster.
Meanwhile, the State Agency for Development of Handloom Cluster (SADHAC), an autonomous body constituted by the textiles and handloom department, has started functioning from January this year. This body will work for preservation and promotion of handloom heritage, create data base on handlooms, sensitise weavers to adopt and develop new designs and transfer of local technology from one location to another.
While induction of new technology, research and development activities are proposed to be taken up by the agency, it will also take up potential study or survey of clusters.
Besides, SADHAC will assist in the formulation of the textile policy of the state and will commission market survey to create linkage for domestic and export market.
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Buyers-sellers meet will be organised to get feed back on product and market trend. Similarly, efforts will be made to disseminate information pertaining to the handloom sector through workshops.
Sources said, the state government is also mulling to give the task of implementing various self employment programmes to this agency.
It is expected to monitor, supervise and evaluate training programmes and may be declared as implementing agency for directorate of textiles and handloom.
In the first governing body meeting of SADHAC held recently, it was decided to appoint one chief executive (CE), one programme assistant and one office assistant for the agency on contractual basis.