Empty stalls, dismayed participants: Little interest for 'Woollen Expo' in Guwahati

Guwahati: Artisans and entrepreneurs are in dismay as their wares at a government-sponsored 'Woollen Expo' in Guwahati have found no takers.

An entrepreneur from Nagaland, who operates a business specializing in handloom and handicrafts, complained that in the first 4 days of the fair, she managed to sell goods worth a mere Rs 8,000. In her home state, this entrepreneur runs a training institute for 36 artisans and earns a monthly profit of over Rs 2 lakh, she said.

This week-long expo is being organized by the Indian Chamber of Commerce and ICAR-National Institute of Natural Fiber Engineering and Technology and supported by the Central Wool Development Board. It is being held from February 3-9.

Another entrepreneur, selling mekhela sador, expressed dissatisfaction as she had only managed to sell products worth approximately Rs 3,000. She attributed this partly to the inadequate facilities at the exhibition venue, such as its small size, lack of proper lighting, and limited parking space.

Others complained that accessibility to the venue was compromised due to a fair amount of distance from the main road, resulting in low footfall.

Another entrepreneur remarked that while they have previously made profits from such exhibitions, the importance of organizers ensuring proper management and providing accessible venues for showcasing products cannot be stressed enough.

The only silver lining, one of the participants said, was that stall space and food were provided free of charge.

According to A Sahoo, Director of the National Research Center for Camel in Bikaner, Rajasthan, the primary goal of the exhibition was to exhibit and promote a variety of woolen products in the region and encourage weavers to market their goods. Most of the participants were women.

"The woollen expo will provide an opportunity for artisans to develop their woollen products and reduce the role of middlemen in purchasing wool", observed D B Shakyawar, the Director of ICAR-NINFET, Kolkata during the inaugural. He also highlighted the high demand for raw wool from the weaver's perspective.

Woollens, in essence, are a household industry in Assam and the northeastern states. Despite being relatively small-scale compared to other regions, this sector is now gaining attention due to its potential for economic development and employment generation.

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