Kanpur,

07 Aug (HS): “Handloom is not only our cultural heritage but also the basis of

livelihood for lakhs of families. The state government is continuously working

to protect the interests of weavers and promote the handloom industry,” said

Cabinet Minister Rakesh Sachan on Thursday.

On

the occasion of the 11th National Handloom Day, a weaver felicitation ceremony,

Sant Kabir State Handloom Award distribution and fashion show program were organized

at the Merchant Chamber Hall in Civil Lines. State Minister for Micro, Small

and Medium Enterprises, Khadi and Village Industries Rakesh Sachan was present

as the chief guest in the program.

At

the beginning of the programme, a grand exhibition of handloom products was

also organised in which products like sarees, dress material, covers, carpets,

table covers and bedsheets were displayed. Under the fashion show program,

national and international level models presented local handloom products through

catwalk. The program was directed by Kutlin Das, Director, IFFTC, Siliguri,

West Bengal. A beautiful amalgamation of traditional and modern designs was

seen in the fashion show.

On

this occasion, Commissioner and Director, Handloom, Uttar Pradesh, Vijayendra

Pandian and Joint Commissioner CC Thakur were present as special guests. The

closing guests congratulated all the weavers and expressed their gratitude with

a pledge to make their products reach the global level.

In

the programme, 39 excellent weavers from 13 districts of Uttar Pradesh, namely

Ayodhya, Aligarh, Etawah, Kanpur, Gorakhpur, Jhansi, Prayagraj, Bareilly,

Moradabad, Meerut, Mau, Lucknow and Varanasi were honoured. Under the Sant

Kabir State Handloom Award Scheme, a sum of twenty thousand rupees for the

first prize, fifteen thousand for the second prize and ten thousand rupees for

the third prize, a shawl, shield and certificate were awarded.

Kallu

Hasan, Keshra and Shahrsah Hussain from Ayodhya, Vikas Singh, Virendra Kumar,

Rahul Mahor from Aligarh, Mohd Aslam, Sachin Kumar and Munna Lal from Etawah

along with weavers from other districts received this honour for their

excellent craftsmanship and handloom products. Sub-Registrar Utrisht Veer

Singh, Assistant Registrar Kusum, International Fashion Designer W, Sudhir

Sania Kumar and Fashion Designer Dipankar Kashyap (Assam) were also present at

the event.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi