SHILLONG:
In a move to leverage technology for empowering the handloom sector, RK Singh, the Managing Director of North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation (NEHHDC), welcomed a technology-driven collaboration with the department of textiles on October 13, highlighting their ambitious goal of encompassing over 10,000 looms across the region in this initiative.
Singh underlined a feature where a QR code, when scanned by a buyer, reveals essential details about the product, including its origin, type of yarn, and a video illustrating the weaving process and location.
This innovation not just enhances the authenticity and uniqueness of Meghalaya’s handloom products but also grants broader recognition to the remarkable skills of the state’s nimble women weavers.
Moreover, Singh mentioned an interaction between the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, and a weaver from Meghalaya during the NEvolution event, where the Prime Minister expressed great appreciation for the technology and its benefits to the weaving community.
In alignment with this initiative, NEHHDC, in collaboration with the Department of Textiles, aims to adopt an additional 500 weavers in Meghalaya, with a particular focus on the Silk Village.
This initiative, titled “Market development through digitalization, authentication and traceability implementation in the Handloom sector,” is expected to elevate the reputation of Ryndia across the region, country, and potentially at the international level.
The Silk Village, identified as a potential “niche handloom export hub,” is seen as a crucial part of this strategy.
Various key speakers, including P. Tmung, President of the Ryndia Growers Association, I Rymbai Eri Weaves entrepreneur, and Iba Mallai, Proprietor of KINIHO, a prominent local production house from the Eri Silk Village, shared their insights during the event. They discussed the advantages they’ve experienced as beneficiaries of this technology.
The event also featured a detailed technical presentation and demonstration, creating awareness about the pioneering digitalization initiatives undertaken by NEHHDC’s technical team. The first phase of this initiative is set to benefit weavers in the Eri Silk Village, followed by weavers throughout the state.
Before the event, the teams visited the Design Innovation Resource Centre (DIRC) set up by the Department of Textiles at the Eri Silk Village. This center showcases the entire value chain of Ryndia and educates visitors and researchers on various eco-driven practices, including natural dyes, organic product sourcing, design patterns, and other ethical practices.
