NABARD observed the National Handloom Day on 06th August 2021 with a grand event, on the theme of “Hathkargha se Aatmanirbharta”, in keeping with the Prime Minister, Shri. Narendra Modi’s call for “Vocal for Local” and “Local for Global”.

Highlighting the emphasis of NABARD on the revival of Handloom sector, Dr. G. R. Chintala, Chairman, NABARD, underscored the importance of handloom sector in taking forward the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Amidst the COVID pandemic, Dr. Chintala, highlighted the need to provide digital marketing linkages for the handloom and other rural sectors, to connect directly with the customers across the country and the globe and converge with Financial Institutions in providing working capital support.

NABARD has been supporting the handloom sector since its inception and has been providing support through various schemes such as cluster development, Off-Farm Producer Organizations, skill upgradation, rural marketing outlets, Exhibitions and Melas, among others. A corporate film on the topic was released on the occasion. Ms Umang Sridhar, Social Entrepreneur and founder of Handloom Startup ‘Khadigi’, Smt Mamatha Rai, Head, Kadike Trust and Dr. May Jacob, Creative Head, Folklogue shared their thoughts on three different themes such as marketing of handlooms in the present times, revival of forgotten weaves and the role of exhibition and responsible tourism for handloom development respectively.

Shri. K. V. Shaji, Deputy Managing Director, NABARD, emphasized the importance of traditional handloom for equitable and sustainable development and urged commercial banks to extend credit support to the handloom sector along with Cooperative Banks and RRBs. He also stressed on the need for implementing more projects for the handloom weavers in the country.

Shri Devasis Padhi, Chief General Manager, Off-Farm Development Department, NABARD, informed “About 5000 handloom weavers are associated with NABARD through 15 of our Off-Farm Producer Organization (OFPO) Scheme. We are also promoting Geographical Indications so that handloom products get the benefits of GI, he said.”

On the occasion, NABARD also published a booklet of successful OFPOs, “Weaving and Shaping Dreams”. Many success stories from the handloom sector from across the country, especially from the North East States were showcased during the webinar. Four agencies working in the handloom sector and have been associated with NABARD were also felicitated on the occasion. The four agencies are Kadike Trust, Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, CODNERC, Serchhip, Mizoram, Jan Kalyan Sanstha, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh and Indo-Global Social Service Society, Jammu & Kashmir. All Regional Offices of NABARD will be commemorating the National Handloom Day in the coming two weeks by providing platform for handloom weavers through small exhibitions, temporary stalls in malls and felicitating eminent persons involved in the promotion and development of Handloom sector.