Indian PM Modi marks National Handloom Day at Bharat Mandapam

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the ninth annual National Handloom Day celebrations at Delhi's Bharat Mandapam on August, 7.

During the event, PM Modi stated that people who wore Khadi were looked upon as having an inferiority complex and that after independence, little emphasis was placed on strengthening the cloth industry (Khadi), which had been so strong in the previous century, and that his government has been working to change this mindset since 2014.

"After independence, much importance was not given to strengthening the cloth industry (Khadi), which was so strong during the last century...the situation was that it was left to die...people who wore Khadi were looked upon with inferiority complex...", PM Modi said.

"Phenomenal work has been done in the previous years for the weavers of India and the country's handloom sector," said PM Modi.

"The demand for Khadi clothes is increasing in India and abroad. In the last nine years, the handloom business turnover has increased from around Rs 30,000 crore to over Rs 1,30,000 crore," said the Prime Minister while addressing the event. 

"In the past nine years the surplus amount this sector has generated has benefitted the poor craftsmen, artisans and handloom workers of the country," he added.

A statement released by the Prime Minister's Office earlier said the Prime Minister will also launch an e-portal and a Repository of Textiles & Crafts developed by National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT).

The release further mentioned that the programme will be attended by over 3000 handloom and khadi weavers, artisans and stakeholders from the textile & MSME sectors.

It will bring together handloom clusters across India, NIFT campuses, Weaver Service Centres, Indian Institute of Handloom Technology campuses, National Handloom Development Corporation, Handloom Export Promotion Council, KVIC institutions and various State Handloom Departments, it added.

With ANI inputs