Union Minister of State for Textiles (I/C), Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar and Union Minister of State
(Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Minister
of State (I/C) for Youth Affairs and Sports, MoS PMO, Personnel, Public
Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh, jointly inaugurated
here today an Exhibition-cum-Sale of Handicraft and Handloom poducts from the
North Eastern States of India.
Interacting with the media, Shri
Santosh Kumar Gangwar spoke of the initiative by the Ministry of Textiles to set up an Apparel and Garment Making Centre in all eight states in
the North Eastern Region. He said that this is the first organized effort to
bring modern ready-made garment industry in the North East, and a significant step towards the Make in India initiative of the Government. The Minister said that the project, which comes under the North-East
Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS), will develop entrepreneurship through
various capacity building measures and also train the people to work
efficiently on high-end garment machines. Each
Apparel and Garment Making Centre set up under the initiative is estimated to
generate direct employment for 1,200 people. It will help develop an ecosystem that will trigger
further investments and employment. The Centres in Tripura and Nagaland have already
been inaugurated, while work is in progress in the remaining six states.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr
Jitendra Singh said this is a landmark event to showcase the rich variety of
textiles, handicrafts and bamboo furniture and artefacts of the North Eastern
Region (NER). He said the ‘Purbashree’ stall was inaugurated at Dilli Haat
earlier this month. The Dilli Haat stall on permanent basis, devoted
exclusively to the North East, has been set up by the North Eastern Handicrafts
and Handlooms Development Corporation Ltd (NEHHDC) to give further boost to the
development and promotion of North East handicrafts and handloom products. Dr
Jitendra Singh said the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has also encouraged
setting up of start-ups and hoped that exhibitions like this will promote new
ventures in cottage industry in the NER.
On the occasion Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar and Dr Jitendra
Singh launched a Coffee Table book titled “Celebrating Cottage – A Tribute to Indian Crafts and Craftpersons” and a "Cottage Mobile App". Secretary, Ministry of Development of North
Eastern Region, Shri Naveen Verma, and Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Ms.
Rashmi Verma, were the 'Guests of Honour' at the function.
The Exhibition-cum-Sale of
exclusive products, specially created by award-winning craft persons, master
craft persons and Shilp-Gurus from North Eastern States of India, is being
organised by the Central Cottage Industries Corporation of India (CCI) Ltd at
the CCI Emporium. The fortnight-long event is a joint endeavour undertaken by
the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DONER) and Ministry of
Textiles. It will remain open to the public till June 12, 2016, from 10.00 AM
to 7.00 PM daily.
Known for its indigenous
earthy appeal and meticulous craftsmanship, the handmade creations from North
East have drawn worldwide attention. The ambit of products showcased in the
exhibition include a wide range of high quality handcrafted and authentic range
of bamboo handicrafts, grass handicrafts, cane handicrafts, handloom textiles
& made ups, pottery and jewellery, representing the crafts traditions and
cultural ethos of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram,
Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim. The exhibition is accompanied by live
demonstration by invited craftpersons in an effort to display the nuances of
glorious craft traditions and their making from the North Eastern States of
India.
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KSD/NK/PK/DJM
(Release ID :145792)