Centre to set up handloom cluster in Mirabai Chanu's village in Manipur

Chanu's silver medal haul in Tokyo Olympics has now encouraged the Centre to set up a mega handloom cluster to help the weavers in her village

Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu's silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics may change the lives of hundreds of women weavers at her native village in Manipur, with the Centre deciding to set up a mega handloom cluster at Nongpok Kakching village in Imphal East district.

Union Minister of Textiles, Commerce and industry, Piyush Goyal on Saturday announced that the mega handloom cluster will be set up at a cost of Rs 30 crore to honour Mirabai's feat "that has made the country proud". He also announced that another handloom craft village will be set up at Moirang as a tribute to the Indian National Army fighters, who hoisted the Indian tricolour for the first time on Indian soil during World War II.

Goyal made the announcements while speaking at 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' function organised by the Ministry of Textiles, Commerce and Industry in association with the department of textiles, Manipur, at Imphal.

Stating that the country is yet to fully explore Manipur’s handloom and handicraft potential, Goyal said that products from the state may have a great demand in the global market. "The ministry will extend all possible assistance in skill development, value addition, packaging, design and branding, if needed."

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said that the state's handloom and handicraft products are unique and it has the potential to occupy a special place in the global market.

Textiles, Commerce and Industries Minister, Manipur, Thongam Biswajit Singh said that Manipur has the highest concentration of looms in the country, with around 211,000 looms and around 212,000 weavers. "When the population of weavers is shrinking in almost every other state, their population is increasing in Manipur," Biswajit Singh said.

At the function, Goyal released a short film titled ‘Saikhom Mirabai Chanu.’ He also handed over a cheque of Rs 20 lakh to Mirabai’s mother for the film.

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