Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani during his interaction with Governor of state BD Mishra a few days back has given a proposal that for promoting the state’s traditional loin looms a handloom park can be established in the capital region. If this happens then it would be fulfilling the urgent needs of the traditional handloom weavers of Arunachal who desperately need infrastructural support for boosting their timeless tradition.
Textile industry is one of the largest industries in country and second largest in terms of providing employment to more than 35 million people contributing to 7 % of industrial output in terms of value, 2 % of GDP and 15 % of country’s export earnings. The size of India’s textile and apparel market is expected to reach USD 226 billion by 2023, underscoring the fact that the sector as well as the market is expanding at a good pace. With such an encouraging canvas, it is apparent that Arunachal handlooms can play a worthy role and emerge as a major player in the country’s textile scenario and be a part of this exciting future if systematically encouraged. It would be cliché to repeat that the state’s handlooms enjoy wide acceptability all over India and world due to their sheer uniqueness, quality and variety. A prospective buyer might get puzzled what to choose from, since varieties are endless with each tribe displaying their creations in different colours & designs in eco-friendly fabrics, all symbolizing their respective identities.
But the reality is that, despite these winning ingredients, the sector hasn’t realized its full potential particularly because it is largely unorganized and plagued with associated ailments. And the idea of having handloom parks has evolved to mitigate these challenges by ensuring infrastructure development, skill up-gradation, raw material availability, design & product development as per current market demand and even play area for weavers’ children, all under one roof so that they get better remuneration and an assured market. As times are changing fast, without a systematic channel of production and constant delivery mechanism to cater to needs of the discerning retailers ready to absorb the production, it would be really difficult to sustain the cut-throat competition thrown by machine-made fabrics. There are many instances of success of this concept in many states which have brought solid changes in the lives of weavers. It has also got a social significance since it is a great way of showing honour to the centuries-old traditions which these people have saved from going to obscurity.
The proposed handloom park must be ushering hopes among the state’s loin loom weavers and it would be great if it comes up within a reasonable period of time.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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