Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi Thursday said that the state government has signed 33 agreements with an investment proposal of Rs 7,808 crore for the establishment of textile industries in the state. He said this while inaugurating the Exhibition-cum-Knowledge Sharing for Textile Advantage (EKTA) programme, marking the 11th National Handloom Day, at Janata Maidan here. Highlighting the employment potential of the projects for which the memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were signed, the CM said implementation of these agreements will create 53,300 job opportunities in the state’s textile sector.
Stating that the state government is committed to providing infrastructure and institutional support to the handloom sector, Majhi said Odisha has been developing handloom parks with common facilities like dye houses, warehouses, design studios, and quality control laboratories in Bargarh and Cuttack districts. Around 40 master weavers of Odisha have been given national awards for excellence and innovation, he said. On the occasion, the CM released the mascot of Handloom Day, ‘Resha’, and a short film on the handloom industry.
Majhi also felicitated the handloom weavers of the state. The handloom fair, which started Thursday, will continue till August 13. Attending the event as the chief guest, Bollywood superstar Madhuri Dixit said that she feels the heartbeat of the weavers. “This industry is not just clothing, it is the identity of every Odia, and it is the Odia ‘asmita’ (pride),” said Dixit. “Handloom is not just a livelihood, it is an integral part of our culture and our lifestyle,” she said. Odisha Handloom, Textiles and Handicrafts and Cooperation Minister Pradeep Bal Samanta said that the state government has taken several steps to maintain the glorious tradition of the textile industry and transform it into a modern market-demand-driven product. The progress of handloom artisans has been ensured through the Chief Minister’s Handloom Worker Honour Scheme, Handloom Craftsmen Promotion Policy, and various industry fairs and grant schemes, the minister said.
