The Ningol Chakouba Handloom Exhibition, 2022-2023 was inaugurated on Monday at GM Hall in Imphal West by the MLA Wangkhei AC, Arun Thangjam.
Organised by Manipur Apex Handloom Weavers and Handicrafts Artisans' CS Ltd, the exhibition will last till October 26 and is being held under the theme ‘My Handloom and Pride’.
Addressing the function MLA Arun Thangjam said that the state has high potential in handloom and handicraft and hence, it is the second largest employment generation sector of Manipur. Lack of proper market strategies is one of the major hurdles of the weavers and artisans of the state, he pointed out.
He continued that the state government has also initiated various market strategies to promote handloom and handicraft products of the state. The government decided to start using locally made handloom and handicraft products in government offices and as school uniforms etc., he said.
He said that people of the state should also extend their co-operation in promoting local-made handloom and handicraft items as it would help in improving the economy of the state as well.
People should encourage giving local-made handlooms and handicraft items as a gift of Ningol Chakouba instead of buying imported items, he suggested.
He also assured to discuss setting up of permanent exhibition centres which were proposed by people into handloom and handicraft sectors.
The program was also attended by deputy director and head of office of Weavers Service Centre, Porompat Imphal East, HK Baro; project manager (Handloom) of district handlooms and textiles, Imphal East, Th ibemcha Devi; officer in-charge marketing of National Handloom Development Corporation Ltd Imphal, Y Shantikumar Singh and president of Handloom Promotion Council, Chingtam Luwang as guests of honours and special invitee respectively.
