The National Handloom Day was celebrated at Bharat Mandapam in Pragati Maidan on August 7 in New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the event and launched the e-portal ‘Bhartiya Vastra evam Shilpa Kosh – A Repository of Textiles & Crafts’ developed by the National Institute of Fashion Technology. PM Modi also visited the exhibition showcased on the occasion and interacted with the weavers.
In his address, PM Modi recalled how the exhibitors used to showcase their products in a tent in an exhibition held in Pragati Maidan before the inauguration ceremony of Bharat Mandapam took place.
Terming the month of August as month of Kranti, PM Modi reminded the gathering that this is the time to remember every sacrifice that was made for India’s independence.
Highlighting the importance of Khadi, PM Modi said that turnover of Khadi and village industries was only around Rs 25-30 thousand crores nine years ago. but today it has reached more than one lakh thirty thousand crore rupees. He informed that more than 600 handloom clusters have been developed in the last 9 years and thousands of weavers have been trained.
Underlining that ‘Sabka Prayas’ will be required to make India’s handloom, Khadi and the textile sector as the world champions. He added that those who weave the dreams of an Atmanirbhar Bharat and provide strength to ‘Make in India’ consider Khadi to be not just clothing but a weapon”.
Union Minister of Textiles, Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of State for Textiles, Darshana Jardosh and Union Minister for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, Narayan Rane were also present on the occasion.