Handloom sector must diversify to attract youth says Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
Nov 7, 2022

On November 5, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated the Balaramapuram Handloom Producer Company Limited Common Facility Training Centre in Balaramapuram. Sitharaman urged the handloom industry to diversify to attract younger customers and increase profit.

“The handloom industry should diversify the products for boosting profitability as well as attracting more youth to handloom products,” said Sitharaman on Saturday, the Press Trust of India reported. “Weavers should utilise e-marketing and the government e-marketplace portal for marketing their products. Nabard will provide support in this regard. The Central Government is ready to consider any proposal from the state for the development of Balaramapuram.”
 
At the inauguration ceremony, Sitharaman stated that each weaver in the Balaramapuram Handloom Producer Company Limited CFC should be able to benefit from the business’ profits. Complimenting the quality of the area’s handloom goods, Sitharaman mentioned that she was herself wearing a handloom saree made in Balaramapuram. 

The CFC inauguration event also saw Sitharaman honour the veteran handloom weavers of the area and a keynote speech from Union Minister of State for External Affairs, V Muraleedharan, ET Bureau reported. The area is one of the panchayats that forms the city of Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. The area is known for its traditional handloom production and is a major trade centre for fast moving consumer goods.