Purnendu Basu urges handloom societies to unite & build awareness for products

Kolkata: State minister for Technical Education, Training & Skill Development Purnendu Basu urged handloom societies across the state to join hands and create massive awareness of its products and compete with the power loom products.

"The products that you are producing are limited to a closed society. You need to come up with a strategy to create an open society for handloom products. You have to go for advertisements or showcase your products. You can take slots in radios and explore other means to reach more consumers," Basu said at a programme organised by the Weavers' Service Centre to mark the occasion of World Handloom Day.

He emphasised that the same is true for jute products which is also seen as a more fashionable product but whose utilization is much below potential. Stressing on the need to create a powerful society for popularization of handloom and jute products Basu said: "The government alone cannot spoon feed you to keep the traditional handlooms alive. The responsibility is upon you to create a form of movement and knock at the door of the governments both the Centre and the state so that they are compelled to give more importance to this sector," he added.

He regretted that the businessmen associated with the sale of handloom products are focusing more on products of other states for their own petty interests. "If we can ensure selling of only those products that are manufactured by the people of our own state, we can give create a robust market for handloom products. Don't join hands with the businessmen of Gujarat and keep more and more products produced by our own handloom weavers," he maintained.

Basu further urged the societies to have a proper market study regarding the sales of the handloom products and work towards diversification of products.

"There should be a database of semi-skilled, skilled, highly-skilled and unskilled labourers associated with the production of handloom and jute products. Proper project plan for revival of the industry should be in place before you approach the government for assistance or beneficial schemes in this regard," advised Basu.