National Handloom Day: NABARD honours Assam weavers, pitches Rs 5,000 crore export

Guwahati, Aug 7 (AHN) The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) on Friday celebrated the National Handloom Day in Guwahati by honouring successful handloom weavers and showcasing Assam's traditional weaving heritage, while stressing the sector's role in women-led rural livelihoods and economic growth, officials said.

The event, held at the NEDFi Conference Hall in Dispur, featured a day-long exhibition-cum-sale of handloom products from across Assam, with 12 stalls displaying traditional textiles and handcrafted products made by local artisans and weavers.

Speaking at the programme, NABARD Assam Chief General Manager G. Ramesh Kumar highlighted the handloom sector's contribution to women's empowerment and the rural economy.

He said that NABARD has been supporting the sector through various interventions and reaffirmed the institution's commitment to its sustainable growth in the state.

North Eastern Council (NEC) Secretary Satinder Kumar Bhalla, the chief guest, recalled the historical significance of National Handloom Day and lauded NABARD's role in strengthening rural development through handloom promotion.

Bhalla outlined an ambitious roadmap for the sector, including achieving handloom and handicraft exports worth Rs 5,000 crore by 2030, training and upskilling more than 50,000 artisans, and establishing more than 30 Common Facility Centres to improve production capacity and design quality.

He stressed the need to enhance the scale, quality and competitiveness of the handloom industry to ensure sustainable growth and contribute to the vision of a developed India by 2047.

Assam Agriculture Secretary P. Uday Praveen and NEDFi Executive Director Lemli Loyi were also present at the programme.

Eminent entrepreneur and Assamese costume designer Garima Saikia Garg, along with three accomplished weavers, was felicitated for their contribution to Assam's handloom sector.

Addressing the gathering, Garg shared practical insights with artisans and weavers on improving product quality, design innovation and marketability.

The exhibition drew a large number of visitors, providing weavers with a platform for direct consumer interaction, wider market exposure and increased visibility for Assam's traditional handloom products.