Kolkata, 06 March (H.S.): Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh on Friday chaired a review meeting in Kolkata with officials and stakeholders associated with the jute, handloom and handicraft sectors, focusing on strategies to strengthen traditional textile industries through innovation, diversification and value addition.

Officials from the handloom and handicraft sectors, representatives of regional offices of the Ministry of Textiles, and delegates from several institutions including the Jute Board, Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres, National Institute of Natural Fibre Engineering and Technology and the Indian Jute Industries’ Research Association participated in the meeting.

During the discussion, Singh said the jute sector is undergoing rapid transformation with the development of diversified and high-value products. On the occasion, he also wore a jacket and a shawl made from jute-based fabric developed by the industry. The fabric contains about 60 percent jute blended with cotton and viscose fibre.

The minister noted that jute was traditionally used mainly for packaging materials such as sacks, but the sector is now expanding into fashion apparel and modern textile products. According to him, the development of jute-based fabrics and new natural fibre blends will help generate higher value for farmers, artisans and industry stakeholders.

Singh emphasized that promoting technology adoption, innovation and diversification in jute and other natural fibres would boost local products and strengthen the vision of an self-reliant India. He added that these initiatives would empower weavers, artisans and jute farmers while improving the global competitiveness of India’s traditional textile sectors.

He further said sectors such as handloom, handicrafts and jute have the potential to become major sources of employment and income generation for millions of artisans and workers across the country. The meeting also reviewed measures to promote innovation, research, market expansion and product diversification in these sectors.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh