Statesman News Service
MALDA, 30 JUNE: The Malda district has formed a cluster of 350 weavers at Sat-tari village in English Bazaar block for the development of the handloom industry. The district authorities have received funds of Rs 9.62 lakh from the Centre and Rs 1.2 lakh from the state for this project out of a proposed estimate of Rs 32.30 lakh to cover three years.
To develop the standard of the handloom industry, the state textile department has selected 350 weavers out of nearly 2,000 who are weaving traditional big napkins (gamchha).
“We have decided to train the weavers to make saris and other cloths for garments. One master trainer will guide them in weaving other quality items,” said Mr Molay Kumar Sarkar, handloom development officer in Malda.
According to him, the department has formed 35 self help groups (SHG) comprising 10 members each and has opened 35 bank accounts for this project. Another consortium has been formed, selecting one member from 35 SHGs who will monitor the project and take responsibility of the marketing of produce from this cluster.
The handloom development officer, Mr Sarkar, said: “Selected members of the consortiums from Sat-tari in Malda and Gangarampur in South Dinajpur may visit a mega-cluster project in another state for a short period of training in the second week of July to make the project viable”. After three years the textile departments will hand over the entire project to the consortium formed at Sat-tari.
The Central and state governments have already sanctioned funds partly, to build a common facility centre, for design development, a yarn depot, and other infrastructural developments at Sat-tari. To bring yarn from the National Handloom Development Corporation (NHDC), the handloom development office in Malda has already deposited Rs 3 lakh to the NHDC.
The Malda handloom development officer said: "Many people living at Madia near Shobhanagar in English Bazaar block are working in carpet industry in Varanasi and other states and they are very skilled in this sector. We have planned a project at Bengal Brand Carpet Weaving Centre at Madia in Malda.
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