NABARD celebrates event on National Handloom Day
NABARD Punjab Regional Office celebrated National Handloom Day by organizing a workshop cum mini exhibition of artisans product today. Artisans supported through OFPO ‘Sangrur Phulkari Producer Company Ltd’ and SHGs/ JLGs participated in the programme.
Dr Rajiv Siwach, CGM, while chairing the proceedings highlighted the importance of handloom sector in upkeep of our rich heritage and NABARD support to rural artisans for skill upgradation, provision of marketing avenues, etc. Handicrafts is unique source of employment which do not require migration of rural youth to cities as also it is an eco-friendly activity in comparison other sectors which contributes to global warming. He also informed that during Covid induced lockdown, the artisans could not market their produce, hence Punjab RO has facilitated for marketing of their products with onboarding on Flipkart portal.
Ms Poonam Thakur, Principal, NIIFT, Mohali discussed about Design Development and Marketing Support to Handloom Sector for better production and marketing of produce by artisans. She put forth the need of understanding market demands and to blend tradition production with contemporary taste. She also displayed value addition in the designs through pictorial presentation of different sample designs. Dr Sujit Kumar, Director, KVIC discussed the various schemes for capacity building, machinery and financial support available for the artisans for setting up of units.
Alongside the workshop stalls were set up in the RO premises featuring artisan products Punjab, including Phulkari, jute, other products of artisans and marketed thereof.
