Handloom industry vital to Assam’s heritage, rural economy, says NEHHDC managing director

Guwahati: Handloom has always been a vital part in the northeastern region though many challenges are being faced in the handloom industries. To seek answers to the question related to current state, challenges and to take out information of CSR program, Business North East spoke to  Brigadier Rajiv Kumar Singh, Managing Director of North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation (NEHHDC), who shed light on the current state of the handloom industry in Assam and the other parts of Northeast.

Here are the excerpts from the interview:

Business North East: Handloom has always been a vital part of northeast and Assamese culture. How do you see the current state of the handloom industry in Assam?
Brigadier Rajiv Kumar Singh: Thank you for the opportunity, and I also thank Business Northeast for always taking the time to cover important topics. Talking about handloom, it's deeply connected to our heritage and rooted in the traditions of Assam and the Northeast in general. It's a part of our heritage, culture, and something we must preserve for generations to come. There are certainly many challenges, but we need to ensure that this rich heritage isn’t lost. The younger generation needs to be made aware of the uniqueness of handmade products and their special qualities. I'm confident that, with the right policies and governance, handloom can contribute significantly to the rural economy in the future.

Business North East: What are the key challenges faced by weavers, especially in terms of competition from mechanized and fast fashion industries?
Brigadier Rajiv Kumar Singh: Yes, this is one of the biggest challenges. As you mentioned, the Indian consumer is very price-sensitive, often opting for cheaper products without considering the quality or the way they are made. Handmade products cannot be compared to machine-made or power loom products. Consumers need to understand the difference between handmade and machine-made products and why handmade items are more expensive. Although a 1985 Act of Parliament was passed to safeguard the interests of weavers, the implementation on the ground remains problematic. We need to find ways to address this.

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Business North East: Can you tell us about CSR programs to promote handloom at the local, national, or international level?
Brigadier Rajiv Kumar Singh: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) requires every company to allocate 2% of their profit towards CSR activities. Big companies like Tata, Reliance, Aditya Birla, and some leading PSUs under the Government of India are already involved in supporting handloom through their CSR programs. However, a lot more needs to be done.

Business North East: What are some of the training or skill development programs offered by the government to ensure that young artisans take up weaving? Is there a budget allocated for it?
Brigadier Rajiv Kumar Singh: There are several schemes sponsored by the Indian government for the handloom sector, aimed at ensuring that young people, who may not be keen on following in their parents' footsteps, are brought into the fold. Mobilization efforts are strong. To name a few, the Ministry of Textiles has a scheme called Samarth, which is an inclusive training program. Another key initiative is the Government of India's flagship scheme, PMKVY 4.0 (Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana). This scheme includes numerous job roles related to handloom. As for the budget, it is allocated on a Pan-India basis, with every department of the State and Central Governments receiving targets from the Ministry of Skill Development and NSDC to provide free training to candidates.

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