Kullu handloom to be showcased virtually

Ravi S Singh
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, August 6

In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for “vocal for India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat”, the Centre will encourage the promotion of handloom products and weaving skills through several initiatives.

The Union Textiles Ministry will launch a “Mobile App and Back-end Website for Handloom Mark Scheme” on the occasion of sixth National Handloom Day at a virtual function tomorrow. The function to be organised on a virtual platform will include the launch of My Handloom Portal, a Virtual Fair and showcasing of handloom crafts of Kullu (Himachal Pradesh).

The handloom sector is a symbol of the country’s glorious cultural heritage and an important source of livelihood. It is key to women empowerment, as over 70 per cent of handloom weavers and allied workers are women.

Union Minister for Textiles Smriti Irani will be the chief guest at the function while Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur will join it from Shimla through the virtual mode. Besides, handloom clusters across India, NIFT campuses, all 28 Weaver Service Centres, National Handloom Development Corporation (NHDC), Handloom Export Promotion Council (HEPC), along with Textiles Committee at Mumbai, and Virtual Fairbeing organised by the HEPC in Chennai will be connected online.

The Union Textiles Ministry said that a social media campaign was being planned for the handloom weaving community to mark the occasion.