Kamalanagar 8 August, 2016: The 7th August declared by Sri Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India as the National Handloom Day last year at the 110th Anniversary of Swadeshi Movement was observed today by CADC at Kamalanagar. Dg. Kali Kumar Tongchangya, CEM, CADC graced the programme organised by Industry Department, CADC as its Chief Guest.

The Day was celebrated nationally on 7th August. Mizoram observed the Day on 8th a day after. This is for the first time the Day have been observed after its first announcement. The 7th day of August have been particularly appointed to mark the Swadeshi Movement which was formally proclaimed on the same day in the year 1905 in protest against the British colonial rule of India which involved boycotting of British products and the revival of domestic products and processes.

‘Gamchas’ produced at the Common Facility Centre set up by the Industry Department, CADC under Kamalanagar Handloom Cluster Project were exhibited during the occasion. There are two clusters in CADC another being Parva Handloom Cluster.

Estimated cost of each of the projects is about Rs.1.5 Crore. The projects seek to train traditional weavers in using Fly Shuttle loom or Zo-loom which are equipped with advance technology. Weavers among the Chakmas in Mizoram are still using traditional loin-loom. The Fly Shuttle looms or Zo-looms are far more efficient with high rate of production and in terms of creating quality and variation. The project provides scope for diversification of products, computer aided designing, engagement of designer cum market executive, corpus fund, skill up-gradation, setting up of Common Facility Centre, individual work shed, group workshed, solar lighting in group workshed and participation in fair for exhibition of products.

The corpus fund have been provisioned to facilitate creation of a Yarn Depot so that yarn is made available to the weavers at Mill gate price scheme. Each cluster will have one Common Facility Centre (CFC) with facilities for computer aided designing, warping drums and charkha to be availed by the weavers. While CFC may not be accessible to all especially those residing far away from it, 15 Group Workshed have been proposed where training will be conducted. Construction of 7 such Group Worksheds have been already completed. Financial assistance of Rs.12,000/- for setting up of Individual Workshed will be provided under the projects to efficient learners. Such assistance have been already given to as many as 100 weavers.
The District Industry Officer, Dg. Hriday Chakma while speaking on the occasion informed that the project proposal were submitted in 2015 which were approved within a year. Funds have already started coming, he said.

“The Common Facility Centre established at Kamalanagar with 4 Zolooms have produced 79 m of ‘Borgy’, some ’Gamsas’ so far and have been giving training to as many as 24 trainees since last five months”.

“Dgb. Vicky Chakma trained as a Designer from Weavers Service Centre, Jawahar Nagar and Dg. Amesh Kanti Chakma, an amateur expert have been offering their voluntary services in training the trainees at the Centre.”

Dg. Kali Kumar Tongchangya, CEM assured the trainers with opportunities to retain them for the services they have been offering. While encouraging the trainees he said, “Certificate will be issued to all successful learners which will be useful to avail loan to set up your own looms. This will ultimately become an opportunity of self-employment for all of you. As many as 40 looms have been proposed under MSDP which will be available in 2017.”

“The present setup of the CFC is done on temporary arrangement and is very congested. The Executive Committee shall find a suitable plot of land with enough space for training and production”.

Dg. Amarsmriti Chakma, EM i/c Primary School Education while speaking on the occasion made a point about market being created at the local level with the introduction of traditional dress in school on Friday and said, “The weavers need not worry for employment after completion of the training. The introduction of traditional dress in schools have generated a huge demand for ‘Pinon’ and ‘Hadi’”.