Itanagar, Aug 7: Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Friday reaffirmed the Arunachal Pradesh Government's commitment to transforming the State's rich handloom tradition into a vibrant economic sector by integrating traditional weaving with modern design, entrepreneurship and global market access while preserving its unique tribal heritage.
Addressing the inaugural function of the three-day 12th National Handloom Day celebrations at the DK Convention Centre here, Khandu described handloom as much more than a source of livelihood, calling it the cultural identity and living heritage of Arunachal's indigenous tribes.
“Every woven fabric of Arunachal tells the story of our people, our traditions and our identity. Our handloom sector has the potential to become a major driver of rural livelihoods, women empowerment and sustainable economic growth,” he said.
Highlighting the State's vibrant weaving tradition, the Chief Minister said Arunachal Pradesh is home to more than 32,000 handloom weavers, the majority of them women, making the sector one of the largest livelihood providers in rural areas.
He said the government has been strengthening the handloom ecosystem by establishing Common Facility Centres (CFCs), upgrading weaving infrastructure, introducing modern equipment, and promoting skill development, design innovation, marketing support and entrepreneurship.
Khandu informed that weavers are being trained in contemporary design techniques, natural dyeing, quality improvement and product diversification to enhance their competitiveness in national and international markets. Financial assistance, raw materials, modern looms and marketing support are also being extended through various State and Central government schemes.
Encouraging youth to explore opportunities in the sector, he urged entrepreneurs to combine traditional craftsmanship with modern branding, digital marketing and e-commerce to expand market reach.
Emphasising the pivotal role of women, the Chief Minister said generations of women have preserved Arunachal's textile heritage through weaving, adding that the government's objective is to ensure this rich tradition also provides sustainable income and economic independence.
Calling for greater collaboration among government departments, designers, educational institutions, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), cooperatives and private entrepreneurs, the Chief Minister stressed the need to develop Arunachal's handloom products into globally recognised brands while preserving the originality of indigenous designs.
He also highlighted the importance of securing Geographical Indication (GI) tags for the State's traditional textiles, saying GI certification would protect indigenous knowledge, prevent imitation and enhance the market value of local products while enabling artisans to command premium prices.
Underscoring the vast potential of sericulture, Khandu said Arunachal Pradesh is uniquely positioned to produce all four commercially important silk varieties—Eri, Muga, Mulberry and Oak Tasar—owing to its favourable climatic conditions. He called for strengthening the entire sericulture value chain through host plant cultivation, silkworm rearing, reeling, spinning and weaving to boost rural incomes and support the handloom industry.
He further urged greater convergence between the handloom, textiles and sericulture sectors to promote value addition, branding and market linkages, expressing confidence that Arunachal Pradesh can emerge as one of India's leading handloom destinations.
During the programme, the Chief Minister launched the Textiles & Handicrafts Department’s website, the Artisan Data Bank, and Atii – Arunachal Honey. He also felicitated outstanding weavers and artisans and distributed SAMARTH certificates and Yarn Pass Books to support and empower artisans.
The inaugural function was attended by ministers, legislators, senior government officials, master weavers, artisans, representatives of SHGs and other stakeholders from across the State.