Union textiles minister focuses on handloom protection and tech-led growth
Kolkata (PTI): Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh on Sunday held discussions with weavers and officials in West Bengal, focusing on strengthening the handloom sector through policy support, technology integration and improved market access.
Beginning his visit at Shantipur in Nadia district, the minister interacted with weavers and handloom workers and said the sector would be protected from unfair competition by power looms, a statement said.
He also announced that school uniforms would be sourced exclusively from handwoven fabric.
Singh highlighted the significance of GI-tagged sarees such as Shantipuri, Baluchari and Tangail, and said proposed trade agreements with the United States and the European Union could open up wider export opportunities for Bengal's artisans.
Referring to the Mahatma Gandhi Gram Vikas Yojana, he said efforts were being made to strengthen marketing linkages, while the use of artificial intelligence-based quality sampling could help improve consistency and global competitiveness. The minister noted that West Bengal has nearly seven lakh weavers.
Later, Singh visited Barrackpore and met senior officials of the Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres (CRIJAF), National Institute of Fashion Technology Extension and Training (NINFET) and Indian Jute Industries' Research Association (IJIRA) at the CRIJAF campus.
The discussions focused on adopting new technologies within traditional textile ecosystems to enhance productivity, quality and sustainability without diluting artisanal character.
Officials briefed the minister on ongoing research related to fibre innovation, design development and climate-resilient practices for handlooms and allied sectors.
Shantipur is among the country's oldest handloom centres, known for its fine cotton sarees, while the institutions in Barrackpore are engaged in research, training and innovation across jute, handloom and allied textile segments, the statement said.
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Kerala woman on trek at Tadiandamol hills goes missing, search operations on
Bengaluru (PTI): A 36-year-old woman, who went trekking at Tadiandamol hills in Kodagu district, has gone missing inside the forest. Additional personnel and drone cameras have been deployed to search for her, Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre said on Sunday.
He said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, expressing concern about the young woman's disappearance, instructed that search operations be intensified.
G S Sharanya had come alone from Kerala for the trek and stayed at a private homestay in Kakkabe village.
She had gone to the high mountain range of Tadiandamol hills in Kodagu with a guide and 15 other trekkers on April 2. She went missing that afternoon. As soon as the matter was known, five teams of 50 people, including police, the anti-Naxal squad, a dog squad and forest personnel were formed, and are conducting searches, the minister's office said in a statement.
According to Khandre, CM Siddaramaiah expressed concern about the disappearance of the young woman who went on a trek and instructed that additional personnel be deployed for the search.
"Four additional teams of 40 personnel have been deployed today. A total of 9 teams are conducting the search operation. Honest efforts continue to find the missing young woman," he said.
Further noting that, as per reports, the young woman last contacted the homestay by phone on Thursday, stating she had lost her way, the minister said, "Search is being conducted based on her phone location. Local tribal people have also rushed to help, and sophisticated thermal drone cameras have been obtained with an additional team deployed starting today."
