Union textiles minister Smriti Irani on Friday launched the Integrated Large Scale Eri Farming in Arunachal Pradesh under North East Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS).
Initially, the project will cover five districts of the state which are Papum Pare, East Kameng, Siang, East Siang and West Siang.
While launching the centrally funded scheme for Eri silk Farming, the Union minister said that around 1000 acres of land will be covered for Eri Farming in the chosen districts of the State.
Informing that the Central Government has decided to provide financial assistance to 4000 beneficiaries under NERTPS, Irani assured that skill training would be imparted to Eri silk farmers and weavers under the Samarth Scheme.
Union minister of state for home affairs, Kiren Rijiju who was also present on the occasion, said that the NERTPS is also a scheme for women empowerment and employment generation.
“The traditional weaving culture of Arunachal provides vast opportunity for the textile sector,” he said.
Earlier, on the invitation of Governor Brig (Retd) Dr B D Mishra, the Union minister visited Raj Bhavan where she reviewed a set of loin looms set up in the tricolour hut of the front lawns of Raj Bhavan.
Interacting with the weavers, Irani suggested for registering and branding the loin loom products of every Arunachalee tribe.
This, she said, will facilitate access of the Loin Loom products to international markets.
She also appreciated the endeavor of first lady Neelam Misra, who has, with perseverance, learnt loin loom weaving and has been trying to initiate concrete action for the strengthening of loin loom which, inter alia, is the State’s cultural heritage.
The first lady, while apprising the minister of the problems faced by the local weavers, requested the Union minister to start cotton and silk banks in Arunachal Pradesh. She mentioned that to preserve the age-old loin loom tradition in its pristine form, the local weavers must have the facility at hand to collect their thread requirement.