Union Minister visits Sualkuchi

CORRESPONDENT
SUALKUCHI, July 10 – Union Minister of State for Textile, Panabaka Lakshmi, visited Sualkuchi on July 4.

She first stepped into the Sualkuchi Institute of Fashion Technology where she saw the modern technology of dyeing, designing and stitching being imparted to several groups of youths for a period of six weeks each. The minister also critically examined the processes of product diversification in lieu of the traditional clothes. She was showed some samples of diversified products prepared by the trainees during the training period.

The minister later went to the handloom textiles products centre of Purna Ram Baishya, Sualkuchi Janata LP School road. There she saw the weaving of clothes and interacted with the weavers working in the factory and tried to understand their various problems of the entrepreneurs as well as the weavers. The Textiles Minister visited the sales depot of muga pat fabrics of Assam Samabai Resham Pratisthan, one of the leading handloom co-operative society at the primary level and impressed on the indigenous design in muga pat fabrics. Some items to be imported were shown to the minister. The minister later on purchased some items of muga sarees from the society. Earlier, Mahendra Kalita, secretary of the society falicitated the minister with gamosa.

Later, talking to staff correspondent the minister expressed her feelings of gratitude towards the people of Sualkuchi who are preserving the handloom weaving heritage and working hard for expansion of the handloom industry. She also praised the people who are producing export items for international market one and expressed her desire to install handlooms like Sualkuchi to make herself aware of the problems of the weavers as well as the entrepreneurs of the village. Regarding the supply of mulberry yarns at subsidised rate to Sualkuchi. The minister said that if the State government sends the proposal it would be considered.

The Union Minister was accompanied by a host officials of Central Silk Board and Handloom and Textiles including Mukti Gogoi. Director, Handloom and Textiles, Assam Sarat Dewri, joint secretary, Central Silk Board, Guwahati, Dr MC Vajpayee, Scientist ‘C’, Dr SN Misra, Scientist ‘C’, Central Silk Board, Mamata Bargohain, Asstt Director, Central Silk Board. source: ASSAM TRIBUNE