Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today said handlooms can be a tool to fight poverty, just as swadeshi was a tool in the struggle for freedom. He said Khadi and handloom products provide the same warmth that mother’s love provides.
He was speaking at the celebrations of the first National Handloom Day in Chennai.
The Prime Minister emphasized that India, whose handicrafts were once in demand across all continents, had not been able to market its handloom products well in recent times. He said that with the world becoming progressively more aware about the environment and holistic healthcare, there is a need to highlight the eco-friendly aspects of handloom products.
The Prime Minister recalled his appeal on the radio programme “Mann Ki Baat” in October last year, for all households to keep at least one Khadi product at home. He said that he had been informed that Khadi sales have risen by 60 percent since then. He said a similar effort now has to be made for handloom products.
On an emotional note, the Prime Minister said that the entire family of a weaver is involved in the creation of a product such as a saree. He said the family makes the saree just as a mother brings up a daughter – and once it is ready, the family bids it farewell, the way a bride is bid farewell after the wedding.
The Prime Minister launched the India Handloom Brand. He also presented the Sant Kabir Awards and National Awards.
The Governor of Tamil Nadu Dr. K. Rosaiah, Union MoS (I/c) for Textiles Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Union MoS (Road Transport & Highways and Shipping) Shri Pon Radhakrishnan and the Minister of Finance and PWD for Tamil Nadu Shri O Paneerselvam were present on the occasion.
The video that was played at the venue. https://t.co/CVtSo19nlU #HandloomDay @TexMinIndia
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 7, 2015
Firstly, I would like to congratulate the people of Tamil Nadu, CM Jayalalithaa ji and the Government. They are hosting a key programme: PM — PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 7, 2015
I congratulate you and extend my best wishes on the occasion of the first National Handloom Day: PM https://t.co/1b8cDDbQK4 #HandloomDay
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 7, 2015
India is home to several world famous handloom products: PM @narendramodi #HandloomDay https://t.co/1b8cDDbQK4 — PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 7, 2015
The handloom sector has inherent strengths that we need to market: PM @narendramodi https://t.co/1b8cDDbQK4 #HandloomDay
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 7, 2015
Can we not enhance use of handlooms in our daily lives: PM @narendramodi https://t.co/1b8cDDbQK4 #HandloomDay — PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 7, 2015
We need to popularise this among our youth. This will give the much-needed boost to the handloom sector: PM @narendramodi #HandloomDay
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 7, 2015
Fashion and design education in India also needs to be re-oriented: PM @narendramodi https://t.co/1b8cDDbQK4 #HandloomDay — PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 7, 2015
We need to make our handloom tradition the centrepiece of fashion for India and the world: PM @narendramodi https://t.co/1b8cDDbQK4
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 7, 2015
PM @narendramodi urges film makers to use handlooms, handicrafts and khadi. #HandloomDay — PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 7, 2015
We should enlarge the scope of e-commerce for sale of handloom products: PM @narendramodi #HandloomDay https://t.co/1b8cDDbQK4
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 7, 2015
Government is committed to extend robust social security cover to weaver families: PM @narendramodi #HandloomDay https://t.co/1b8cDDbQK4 — PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 7, 2015
Congratulate all those awarded today. Their expertise should be utilized for skill development programmes & production of master pieces: PM
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 7, 2015
Innovative design backed by good marketing is essential for promotion of hand looms: PM @narendramodi https://t.co/1b8cDDbQK4 — PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 7, 2015
Today’s Handloom Day programme marks the beginning of a continuous movement to popularise handlooms & improve lives of weavers.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 7, 2015
Glimpses of the handloom exhibition. pic.twitter.com/lqp7z8o0Or
— NarendraModi(@narendramodi) August 7, 2015
A wonderful video on the handloom sector & our vision for the growth of this very crucial sector. https://t.co/imczprh4Oe
— NarendraModi(@narendramodi) August 7, 2015
Let us make handlooms a key part of our daily lives & give our traditional handloom products the stature they merit. http://t.co/L3eiRIyrZj
— NarendraModi(@narendramodi) August 7, 2015