Itanagar, Aug 7 — Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Friday highlighted the state’s rich weaving tradition, saying that over 32,000 handloom weavers, the majority of them women, are engaged in the sector, which remains a major source of livelihood for rural households.

Addressing the inaugural function of the three‑day celebration of the 12th National Handloom Day at the DK Convention Centre here, the Chief Minister reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to transforming Arunachal Pradesh’s rich handloom tradition into a vibrant economic sector.

He announced that the government is working towards integrating traditional weaving with modern design, entrepreneurship and global market access while preserving the state’s unique tribal heritage.

The Chief Minister described handloom as far more than a livelihood activity, calling it the cultural identity and living heritage of the indigenous tribes of Arunachal Pradesh.

“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.

He said the State Government has been consistently strengthening the handloom ecosystem through improved infrastructure, skill development, design innovation, marketing support and entrepreneurship promotion.

The Chief Minister said the government has established Common Facility Centres (CFCs), upgraded weaving infrastructure and introduced modern equipment to improve productivity while maintaining the authenticity of traditional designs.

He further informed that weavers are being provided training in contemporary design techniques, natural dyeing, quality improvement and product diversification to enable them to compete in national and international markets.

Khandu highlighted that various state and Central government schemes are providing financial assistance, raw materials, modern looms and marketing support to weavers and artisan groups across Arunachal Pradesh.

He urged young entrepreneurs to explore the enormous opportunities in the handloom and handicrafts sector by combining traditional craftsmanship with modern branding, digital marketing and e‑commerce platforms.

Emphasising the role of women in preserving Arunachal’s textile traditions, the Chief Minister said handloom has always been an instrument of women empowerment, with generations of women sustaining the state’s unique cultural identity through their weaving skills.

“Our women have preserved our heritage through handloom for centuries. It is now our responsibility to ensure that this heritage also provides sustainable income and economic independence,” he observed.

The Chief Minister called for greater collaboration among government departments, designers, educational institutions, Self‑Help Groups (SHGs), cooperatives and private entrepreneurs to develop Arunachal’s handloom products into globally recognised brands.

He also stressed the importance of innovation without compromising the originality of indigenous designs, stating that value addition and quality enhancement would enable local products to access premium domestic and international markets.

The Chief Minister underscored the importance of protecting and promoting Arunachal Pradesh’s indigenous textile heritage through Geographical Indication (GI) registration. He said several traditional textile products from the state have either secured or are in the process of securing GI tags, which would enhance their authenticity, protect traditional knowledge and significantly improve their market value in national and international markets.

Khandu said GI certification would not only preserve the unique weaving traditions of different tribes but also enable artisans and weavers to command premium prices for their products while preventing imitation and misuse of indigenous designs.

Highlighting the enormous scope of sericulture, the Chief Minister described it as a natural extension of Arunachal Pradesh’s handloom ecosystem and a sector capable of generating sustainable livelihoods across rural areas.

He noted that Arunachal Pradesh possesses favourable climatic conditions to produce Eri, Muga, Mulberry and Oak Tasar silk, making the state one of the few regions in the country with the potential to produce all four commercially important varieties of silk.

Khandu observed that the sector provides sustainable employment opportunities through activities such as host plant cultivation, silkworm rearing, reeling, spinning and weaving. He stressed that strengthening the entire sericulture value chain would not only increase rural incomes but also provide quality raw material for the state’s growing handloom industry.

Calling for greater convergence between the Handloom, Textiles and Sericulture sectors, the Chief Minister urged officials to promote value addition, branding and market linkages so that Arunachal Pradesh emerges as a leading producer of premium silk and handloom products in the country.

The Chief Minister expressed confidence that with continued government support, technological intervention and active participation of artisans and entrepreneurs, Arunachal Pradesh can emerge as one of India’s leading handloom destinations.

As part of the program, Khandu launched the Department of Textiles & Handicrafts website and Artisan Data Bank, along with Atii – Arunachal Honey, and felicitated outstanding weavers and artisans. He also distributed SAMARTH certificates and Yarn Pass Books to support and empower artisans.

The inaugural programme was attended by Ministers, legislators, senior government officials, representatives of the handloom sector, master weavers, artisans, Self‑Help Groups and other stakeholders from across the state.

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