Guwahati, Sept 24: The Centre and Northeastern states have pledged to give a fresh push to the region’s famed handloom and handicraft traditions, aiming to transform them into engines of economic growth and cultural pride.
At a High-Level Task Force (HLTF) meeting on Wednesday, chaired by Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and joined virtually by Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya Scindia, leaders and senior officials from across the Northeast agreed on a six-point action plan to boost the sector.
Scindia underlined the government’s “whole-of-government approach” to revitalising the sector, announcing pilot projects by November–December 2025 to showcase at least one iconic handloom and one handicraft product collectively from the eight Northeastern states. Future phases, he said, will spotlight unique products from each state.
“The handlooms and handicrafts of our Northeast are living traditions that must be nurtured and showcased to the world. We must bring markets to our artisans, prepare tailor-made state plans, and build ground-level capacities,” Scindia said.
The minister outlined six key priorities: product identification, cluster-based development, market linkages, creation of common facility centres, roadmap development, and gap analysis with strong public-private partnerships.
The meeting saw a candid exchange of concerns from state leaders. Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma called for stronger collaboration among the DoNER Ministry, Textiles Ministry, and MSMEs to unlock the sector’s full potential.
Nandita Garlosa, Assam’s Sports Minister, stressed that marketing remains the biggest challenge for artisans across the region, limiting the reach of their products.
Anurag Bajpai, Additional Chief Secretary of Manipur, pointed to hurdles in raw material availability, high transportation costs, and lack of digital literacy. He urged subsidies to support logistics and emphasised artisan mapping and soft-skills training to improve competitiveness.
Officials said the strategy will follow a phased plan spanning one, three, and five years, beginning with common pilot projects and later diversifying into state-specific initiatives. Dedicated working groups, including representatives from the Textiles Ministry and state governments, will steer implementation.
The September 24 meeting builds on the first HLTF session held in July, signalling sustained momentum to revitalise the sector.
Also Read: Riya Sangma remembers Zubeen Garg: A timeless tribute to a music legend
Also Watch
Find latest news from every corner of Northeast India at hubnetwork.in, your online source for breaking news, video coverage.
Also, Follow us on-
Twitter-twitter.com/nemediahub
Youtube channel- www.youtube.com/@NortheastMediaHub2020
Instagram- www.instagram.com/ne_media_hub
Download our app from playstore – Northeast Media Hub
