NABARD Marks National Handloom Day in Assam, Felicitates Weavers and Showcases Rural Craft

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) on Friday celebrated National Handloom Day at the NEDFi Conference Hall in Dispur, highlighting the contribution of Assam’s weaving community to women’s empowerment, rural livelihoods and inclusive economic development.

As part of the programme, NABARD organised a day-long exhibition-cum-sale of handloom products made by weavers from across Assam, providing them with a platform to showcase their products, gain market exposure and interact directly with consumers.

Addressing the gathering, G. Ramesh Kumar, Chief General Manager, NABARD, Assam Regional Office, stressed the crucial role of the handloom sector in empowering women and strengthening the rural economy. He highlighted various interventions undertaken by NABARD for the development of the sector and outlined the way forward for its sustainable growth in Assam.

Bhalla recalled the historical significance of National Handloom Day and appreciated NABARD’s role in promoting handloom and rural development. He highlighted the vision of achieving handloom and handicraft exports worth Rs 5,000 crore by 2030, training and upskilling more than 50,000 artisans, and establishing over 30 Common Facility Centres to enhance production capacity and design quality.

He emphasised the need to improve the scale, quality and competitiveness of the handloom sector to ensure its sustainable growth and contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.

Eminent entrepreneur, designer and Assamese costume designer Garima Saikia Garg, along with three successful weavers, received felicitations for their outstanding contributions to Assam’s handloom sector.

Sharing her experiences with the participating weavers and artisans, Garg provided practical guidance on improving the quality, design and marketability of handloom products.

As part of the celebration, NABARD set up 12 dedicated stalls showcasing traditional and unique handloom products crafted by weavers and artisans from different parts of Assam. The exhibition attracted a large number of visitors and provided participating weavers with greater visibility, market exposure and opportunities for direct engagement with consumers.

The programme underscored the importance of strengthening Assam’s handloom sector as a means of preserving the State’s rich weaving heritage while creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for rural communities.

 Also Read: Handloom Weaving is the Future of Viksit Bharat