Aizawl: A virtual meeting of the High Level Task Force on Handloom & Handicraft, constituted by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), was held today under the chairmanship of Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.
Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma, a member of the Task Force, joined the meeting from his office in Aizawl. He was accompanied by Chief Secretary Khilli Ram Meena, Vanlaldina Fanai, Commissioner & Secretary to the Chief Minister, Dr. Lalzirmawia Chhangte, Commissioner & Secretary of Commerce & Industries, and officials from the Planning Department.
Following the introductory remarks by the Chairman, Chief Minister Lalduhoma addressed the gathering. He highlighted that 60 percent of India’s handloom and handicraft workforce is based in the Northeast, reflecting the region’s rich tradition and vital role in the sector.
He emphasised that handloom and handicrafts, deeply rooted in the region’s traditional knowledge and cultural identity, hold tremendous economic potential. To harness this, he proposed creating a clear and actionable roadmap to develop the sector across the Northeast.
Among his key recommendations were the establishment of Common Facility Centres, structured training programs for artisans, interstate collaboration and networking, standardization of product quality and branding, and encouragement of innovation in design and skill development. He stated that with proper coordination and investment, the Northeast could become a vibrant, globally recognized textile hub.
The meeting was also attended by Union Minister of DoNER Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Minister of Textiles Giriraj Singh, and Chief Ministers and Ministers from other handloom-rich states.
The High Level Task Force, comprising representatives from all eight Northeastern states, has been tasked with formulating practical strategies to strengthen India’s handloom and handicraft sector. It plans to take a cluster-based approach tailored to each state’s strengths, and aims to submit its final report within three months.
Also Read | Mizoram: PWD blames NHIDCL for crumbling NH-6, urges urgent repairs