SAMARTH Scheme Introduced To Uplift Manipur’s Traditional Artisan Sector

The Directorate of Handloom and Textiles, part of the Department of Textiles, Commerce, and Industry in Manipur, has established the SAMARTH Scheme, which aims to enhance the ability of weavers and artisans across the state. Anurag Bajpai, Additional Chief Secretary (Textiles, Commerce, and Industry), formally launched the initiative at a ceremony in Lamboikhongangkhong, Imphal. The ceremony was also attended by E. Jiten Singh, Director (Handloom & Textiles), Beauty Mili, Assistant Director (Design), Ministry of Textiles, as well as project managers, designers, Cluster Development Executives (CDEs), and textile designers. Speaking at its launch, Bajpai emphasized the scheme’s importance in increasing income options for craftsmen by design skills, the use of environmentally friendly dyes, improved technology, and expanded access to markets.Bajpai also informed that the state government is working on a time-bound proposal to establish a Textile Park to assist and expand Manipur’s textile industry.

Director Jiten Singh provided an overview of the SAMARTH Scheme’s components. Initially, four trades—Apparel, Handloom Weaving, Hand Dyeing, and Kouna Craft—will be taught at the Design Extension Centre in Porompat and the Apparel & Garment Making Centre in Lamboikhongangkhong. Training for the first batch of 25 trainees in sewing machine operation began today, with a 300-hour curriculum spread over a time period of 50 working days.