Steps to boost weaving in Uttaranchal

Rs 246 lakh okayed to revive woollen, cotton sectors

In a move to boost the sale of local handloom products, the Uttaranchal government is mulling the idea of introducing new schemes and will organise expos in Dehra Dun and other parts of the country.

For encouraging weavers, the government has also sanctioned Rs 246.09 lakh as assistance to revive the woollen and cotton products sector.

In this regard, the government has also set up Uttaranchal Handloom and Handicraft Development Council, which will work as a nodal agency to boost various artisan products.

In addition to this, the state government has also modernised its handicrafts centre at Kashipur in Kumaon region with the state-of-the-art machineries and computers.

The government is also in touch with institutes like the National Institute of Fashion Technology for upgrading the designs of the handicrafts products. New designs were also being made available to artisans with the help of computers, officials said. The officials claimed that 500 weavers had been benefited so far under the new schemes.

The government is trying to make available simple loans to small weavers from various cooperative banks and also set up a federation of artisans. Already, 26 weavers' federations have been set up in the state. Special emphasis is being given to silk products in the state. The government is also setting up new looms to help local weavers to design new silk saris.

Special expos will also be organized in Dehra Dun and other parts of the country. A handicrafts expo, which began this week at Parade Ground here, is generating immense interest with weavers doing a brisk business. A business of Rs 1 crore had already been done in the expo, officials said.

For the benefit of artisans, the government is also mulling the idea of organizing special expos in other states.

Helping hand

State govt will organise expos in Dehra Dun and other parts of the country

It has set up Uttaranchal Handloom and Handicraft Development Council, a nodal agency to boost various artisan products

It has modernised handicraft centre at Kashipur in Kumaon region with state-of-the-art machineries, computers