National Handloom Day is annually observed across India on 7 August to honour the handloom weaving community engaged in the handloom sector and highlight the handloom industry’s contribution to India’s socioeconomic development.
- Aim: To generate awareness about handloom products and their importance in India’s cultural heritage.
- 7 August 2024 marks the 10th National Handloom Day.
The Day is also celebrated to commemorate the Swadeshi Movement, which was launched on 7 August 1905.
Background:
i.In 2015, the Government of India (GoI) decided to designate the 7th of August every year, as the National Handloom Day.
ii.The first National Handloom Day was inaugurated on 7 August 2015, by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi at the Centenary hall of Madras University in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
- The PM also launched the India Handloom Brand (IHB) on the 1st National Handloom Day to brand high-quality handloom products with zero defects and zero effects on the environment.
Why August 7?
i.The date of 7 August marks the launch of the Swadeshi Movement in 1905 to protest the British partition of Bengal and support the anti-partition movement.
- To honour the importance of the Swadeshi movement and the contribution of the handloom weavers, the GoI declared 7 August as National Handloom Day.
Purpose of the Swadeshi Movement:
i.In 1905, Swadeshi movement was initiated to encourage the usage of Indian-made goods, which prominently involved handlooms and reviving domestic products and production processes to promote economic self-reliance.
ii.The key people involved in the Swadeshi movement, include Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal, etc.
Significance of Handloom Sector:
i.The handloom sector is a vital source of livelihood in rural and semi-rural areas of India.
ii.The handloom sector employs around 3.5 million people, making it the second-largest employment sector after agriculture.
- It includes 25 lakh female weavers and allied workers, making a substantial contribution to the economy.
iii.Over 70% of weavers and allied workers are women, making it a key sector for women’s empowerment.
iv.Handloom production processes are eco-friendly, requiring minimal capital and power.
Government Initiatives:
The government has introduced several initiatives to bolster India’s handloom sector, aimed at improving weavers’ conditions and boosting productivity.
i.Government e-Marketplace (GeM) Onboarding, allows weavers to sell directly to government departments via the Government e-Marketplace (GeM).
ii.Handloom Producer Companies, formed 124 companies across states, with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) aiding in the capacity building of 100 Producer companies.
iii.Design Resource Centers (DRCs) have been established in major cities to enhance design excellence in handlooms.
iv.Weavers’ Welfare Schemes (WWS) include:
- National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP); Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS); Handloom Weavers’ Comprehensive Welfare Scheme (HWCWS); Yarn Supply Scheme (YSS); and Hathkargha Samvardhan Sahayata (HSS).
v.Weaver MUDRA(Micro Units Development & Refinance Agency Ltd.) Scheme (WMS) offers financial assistance for working capital and new technology investments.
vi.The Ministry of Textiles (MoT)has been annually conferring awards like the Sant Kabir Awards and the National Handloom Award for outstanding handloom weavers.
2024 Events:
The 10th National Handloom Day was celebrated on 7 August 2024, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi. Jagdeep Dhankhar, the Vice President of India was the Chief Guest of the event.
- Union Minister Giriraj Singh, MoT, and Pabitra Margherita, Minister of State (MoS), MoT were also present.
The events to mark National Handloom Day are annually organised by the Ministry of Textiles (MoT).
Event Highlights:
i.Sant Kabir Awards and National Handloom Awards were conferred to handloom weavers for their outstanding contribution to the handloom sector.
ii.The Vice President released the Award Catalogue and Coffee Table Book– “Parampara– Sustainability in Handloom Traditions of India.”
iii.The Development Commissioner (Handlooms), MoT is hosting a series of activities on MyGov Portal as a part of the 10th National Handloom Day celebrations.
Exhibition:
“VIRAASAT”, a fortnight-long exhibition dedicated to celebrating the 10th National Handloom Day has been organised by the National Handloom Development Corporation Ltd.(NHDC) under the MoT from 3 to 16 August 2024 at Handloom Haat, Janpath in New Delhi, Delhi.
About the Ministry of Textiles (MoT):
Union Minister– Giriraj Singh (Constituency -Begusarai, Bihar)
Minister of State (MoS)- Pabitra Margherita (Rajya Sabha, Assam)
