Hon’ble Vice-Chairman Shri Narayan Chandra Borkataky visits Common Facility Centre of Handloom at Eastern Range of Manas National Park, Baksa
Dispur, Rongili Barta: Hon’ble Vice Chairman Shri Narayan Chandra Borkataky of State Innovation and Transformation Aayog (SITA) Govt. of Assam visited the Common Facility Centre (CFC) on handloom in Lwkhibazar (fringe to eastern range of Manas national park) to monitor the progress of the work on 26th November, 2024. In this context, he provided completion certificates to the weavers of the first batch in an interaction programme. Hon’ble Vice-Chairman addressing the gathering spoke on the importance of handloom as a livelihood in the state of Assam. He also praised the work of weavers of the centre and initiatives of ASTEC in Manas landscape. He assured all possible help to improve the facility of the CFC.
It may be mentioned that a forty five-day training on advanced technique on handloom was conducted for 20 local weavers in the CFC during the last year. The weavers also got the facility to continue the production and improve their skills in the CFC. This centre has been developed by Assam Science Technology and Environment Council (ASTEC) in collaboration with the Office of the District Administration, Baksa, Handloom and Textiles dept, Baksa and Manas Maozigendri Ecotourism Society (MMES). This programme is a part of the climate resilient activity of a programme entitled ‘Designing Climate Resilient Practices to Strengthen Management of Kaziranga and Manas Landscape’ sponsored by State Innovation and Transformation Aayog (SITA), Government of Assam. Earlier Dr. Pranjal Bezbarua, coordinator of the programme explained the objectives of the programme. The Ranger of Bhuyapara range, Shri Bibakananda Pathak was a guest in the programme and mentioned the importance of community participation in the conservation of biodiversity of Manas NP. He thanked ASTEC for establishing the CFC for the local community. He mentioned about an souvenir outlet stall in the Bhuyapara range for selling the locally available handloom products. He also talked about different scientific techniques of handloom and scope of value addition for better price. Other officials namely Shri Nilotpal Pathak, ADC, Baksa, Shri Ranjit Malla Deka Assistant Director of Handloom and Textiles department, Baksa, Shri Dwijendra Singha Hazari, Assistant Development Officer and other officials of SITA also attended the programme. The president of local NGO Manas MMES thanked all for the livelihood project in their area.
The Hon’ble VC of SITA, Assam also inaugurated the training for the second batch in the CFC. The trained weavers displayed their products specially eri silk shawl, Bihuwan and other products.