Manipur has rich and unique handicrafts and handloom tradition, and most women here are engaged in weaving. In order to facilitate skill development and empower women, the Shintha Handloom and Handicraft Centre has been imparting training to them.
These women are quite happy to have got the chance to learn new weaving designs.
They are all undergoing a three-month-long training programme organised by the Shintha Handloom and handicrafts Centre in Thongju.
Established in 2006, the training-cum-production centre has been conducting the three months intensive training programme, in batches of 25 girls, for the last six years.
It has till now trained more than a thousand weavers from Manipur, and its neighbouring states, including Tripura.
" I want do something. They are teaching different kinds of weaving so I get to learn many new things like dying clothes, new designs etc. I want to do something in the future," said Laishram Seityabati Devi, an artisan.
More From This Section
Manipur is famous for its exquisite and colorful hand woven clothes. The women of the state have been engaged in the craft for a long time. However, with the easy availability of machine made products, the local artisans face problems in matching their designs and quality.
The motto of Shintha centre, therefore, is to promote skills that will make weaving a sustainable venture.
They make good products but they mainly cater to the local markets as the designs are local. By teaching them new designs, I am preparing them for the abroad market," said. Soroja Devi, Secretary, Shintha Handloom and Handicrafts
"We want to preserve our traditional dress and promote it more to preserve our culture. All the weavers have come together and we are making different kinds of products like cloths, shawls etc. We now want to export our products outside," added Romila Devi, another artesian.
Consistent efforts are being made to empower women and help them become financially independent.
Such skill development programmes will enable the rural women artisans to become self-reliant, and to compete in outside markets.