The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship ( MSDE ) and the textile ministry signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop the Indian handloom industry with skill development.

“MSDE and the textiles ministry have chalked out a new strategy for promoting production and marketing of high value quality handloom products,” an official release said.

Currently, 28 Weavers Service Centres (WSCs) across the country are providing technical assistance to handloom weavers, which are the nodal agency for carrying out skill up-gradation training in the sector.

“Spinning, dyeing, ‘beem bharai’, designing and weaving, are all traditional skills, but have never been realised formally. We must revive interest in these skills and make them viable, paying and valued,” the release added.

The release also informed that the MoU was signed in the presence of textile minister Smriti Irani, who is steering the vision of scaling the handloom and textile sector to new heights.