The Odisha government has decided to set up ten laboratories to test raw material to ensure quality of handloom products. The laboratories would help in testing the quality of yarns, colours, count and also the features of fabrics and products.

Various cooperative societies in Odisha produce handloom products worth Rs 210 crore annually.

About the labs, Odisha’s minister for handlooms, textiles and handicrafts, Snehangini Chhuria said, “Unless quality is maintained our products won’t get recognition in the national and international markets. So weavers can test the quality of their raw materials in these state of the art laboratories.”

The government has also decided to set up 19 handloom clusters in different blocks. The laboratories will be set up in Bargarh, Cuttack, Kalahandi, Patanagad, Sonepur, Athagarh, Gopalpur, Balasore, Baripada, Berhampur, Boudh and Khurda.

Weavers are provided with required colour, yarns and other raw materials in subsidized prices under the National Handloom Development Corporation. However, sometimes due to the poor quality of the raw materials, the final products are not up to the mark, officials in the handloom department said.

A fabric library would also be set up at Bayan Bhawan in Bhubaneswar where exclusive works of prominent weavers will be displayed and young weavers will also get training on popular and intricate designs. Besides, this would also be developed as a major tourist attraction of the state, the minister added.