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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unveil India Handloom brand for better market positioning of quality handloom products on August 7 -- the day Swadeshi Movement was launched in 1905 -at a mega event to mark the first-ever National Handloom Day in Chennai.
"The first National Handloom Day will be launched by the Prime Minister in Chennai on August 7. This day has been chosen to honour the Swadeshi Andolan. PM wanted that the event be organised at a place which has more people associated with Indian Handloom, therefore we chose Chennai," said Union Textiles Minister Santosh Gangwar
However, asked about the Textiles Ministry's pact inked last year with e-retailing major Flipkart to provide an online marketing platform to handloom weavers across the country, Textiles Secretary S K Panda admitted that the arrangement did not bear the desired outcome.
"There are some constraints in selling high-value branded products through Internet. Due to lack of quality assurance, our arrangement with Flipkart did not give desired results. In between, we have given request for quotation (RFQ) to many entities barring Flipkart," he informed.
Panda said the Textiles Ministry aims to establish showrooms in all state capitals to promote products under the India Handloom Brand, on land provided by state governments.
Asked when the new National Textiles Policy, which aims to achieve USD 300 billion exports by 2024-25 and envisages creation of additional 35 million jobs, will be unveiled, Gangwar said the Textiles Ministry is yet to receive comments from all states, after which the policy will be finalised and presented to the Union Cabinet for approval. During the next 1 to 1.5 years, Textiles Ministry will train around 15 lakh persons under Integrated Skill Development Scheme.
