NAMSAI : National Handloom Day was celebrated at Jona Kachari village in Namsai district on Friday with the distribution of 12 solar-powered Abha Eri Silk Spinning Machines to local weavers, aimed at enhancing productivity and improving the livelihoods of rural artisans.
The programme followed the successful completion of a four-day training programme on Eri silk production held from August 3 to 6 under the support of the CMS Foundation.
Observed annually on August 7 to commemorate the Swadeshi Movement of 1905, National Handloom Day recognises the contribution of the handloom sector in preserving India’s cultural heritage while generating sustainable livelihoods for rural artisans.
As part of the initiative, three Producers Groups were formed in Jona Kachari village by Bethel Life Care Charitable Trust (BLCCT) in collaboration with the Arunachal State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ArSRLM). Each group received a grant of ₹2 lakh from ArSRLM, taking the total financial assistance to ₹6 lakh.
To modernise the Eri silk value chain, 12 Abha solar-powered spinning machines were distributed to the Producers Groups. Each machine, priced at ₹25,500, received a subsidy of ₹13,575 from Resham Sutra and the SELCO Foundation, reducing the beneficiary contribution to ₹11,925.
The machines are expected to improve productivity, reduce the physical effort involved in spinning—particularly for women artisans—and enhance the quality of Eri silk yarn.
Addressing the programme as chief guest, NABARD Assistant General Manager (District Development) Kamal Roy highlighted the organisation’s commitment to promoting rural non-farm enterprises, sustainable livelihoods and handloom-based micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). He encouraged the weavers to adopt modern technology, work collectively through Producers Groups, and focus on quality production, value addition, branding and improved market access.
Bethel Life Care Charitable Trust Chief Executive Officer Chandan Prasad emphasised the need to transform traditional weaving into a sustainable enterprise through entrepreneurship development, capacity building and effective business planning. He also stressed the importance of developing standard operating procedures for the long-term sustainability of the Producers Groups.
ArSRLM Namsai Block Mission Manager Ronald explained the objectives and benefits of forming Producers Groups and urged members to work collectively for shared growth, while Umang Cluster Level Federation President Kaitong Manlong assured continued support, including working capital assistance, to strengthen the newly formed groups.
The initiative is being implemented under a CMS Foundation-supported project, with Bethel Life Care Charitable Trust as the implementing partner in collaboration with ArSRLM Namsai and NABARD. Following the completion of the Eri silk production training programme, efforts are underway to establish dedicated handloom and weaving Producers Groups to develop a sustainable Eri silk value chain in the district.
The programme concluded with stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to preserving the handloom tradition while creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for rural artisans through technology adoption, skill development, collective action and institutional support.
