IMPHAL, March 24: Chief Minister O Ibobi alongwith Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of Textiles, Government of India Santosh Kumar Gangwar and State Minister of Commerce & Industries/Vety & Animal Husbandry/Sericulture, Govindas Konthoujam today unveiled the foundation stone and inaugurated the Manipur Sericulture Project Management Complex building at Sangaipat, Imphal East.
The same team with department of commerce & industries and sericulture officials took a round and inspected sericulture product exhibition of handloom and handicrafts at City Convention Centre, Imphal organised by department of commerce & industries and sericulture, Government of Manipur.
After the tour, the dignitaries gathered at the conference hall of the City Convention Centre where foundation stones for Apparel & Garment making centre and Power loom Estate was unveiled by State Chief Minister O Ibobi with Union Textiles Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar.
Chief Guest of the function O Ibobi Singh during his speech said that Manipur is not only good in sports but also is good at producing handloom and handicrafts and added that handloom is the largest earning of the state next to agriculture. He said he is hopeful from the centre to extend support in making the state much better.
Chief Minister said that the launch of Geo Textile Scheme in the State is laudable. He elaborated that the State Government is considering introducing school uniforms and police uniforms made from local handlooms promoting weavers of the State.
He mentioned that the setting up power loom and Apparel & Garment Making Centre in the State could be an important achievement of the State. He elaborated that he is happy to know that the concern ministry has sanctioned to many sericulture projects of the state. He also hoped with the launch of two new schemes will bring more growth in the state textile industries.
Ibobi expressed the confidence that with the support and sanction from the Union Ministry more room would be available for the farmers in diversified business of textiles and expected the product of textiles from the state will flourished in the future.
He said new schemes and projects coming up will generate job opportunity to the educated youths bring peace not only in the state but in the entire NE region.
Secretary Minister of Textiles, Government of India Dr SK Panda, IAS as Guest of Honour of the function congratulating the weavers of state whose art are recognised all over India said that he has been posted in the NE region from the past many years and found that the women section society of the state has gifted talent of weaving and hard working.
He said that the misconception of NE region needs to be changed to the mindsets of mainland India.
Dr SK Panda said that today we are living in a challenging world and need to empower youths and women section. He said that ministry would extend support to weavers in mobilizing to better height.
Minister Commerce & Industries / Vety & Animal Husbandary / Sericulture) Govindas Konthoujam as president of the function said that the foundation of two new schemes will pave ways for development in the field of sericulture. He mentioned that 33% of the population depends on handloom dominated mostly by women section of the society.
He further said that the department is supporting 29000 weavers directly and 30000 weavers indirectly. He said that with the new schemes and supports from the centre Government the handloom and textile industries of the state will be developed in mass fold.
Special Guest of the function Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of Textiles Government of India Santosh Kumar Gangwar said that Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi has good concern over NE region. He said that PM has rightly mentioned that if NE region is neglected then the whole country could not development. He said that promoting NE region is not favouring the region but spelling out their duty.
He said that the ministry at present is more concern about technical textile development and support will be given for any entrepreneur who desires to open Textile Park.
He lauded the State Government for allotment of land piece for construction of Apparel & Garment making centre and Power loom Estate at Lamboi khongnangkhong, Imphal West.
He said the connectivity from airport to Lamboi Khongnangkhong need to expand and made it more connectivity feasible for better business development.
During the function Schemes for Sericulture and Geo-tech were also launched by the dignitaries.
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