Bolster Domestic Market for Local Products to Fend off Tariff Threat: P Rajeeve

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
When earnings from export of products like handloom textiles, coir and value-added spices are under the tariff threat, it is vitally important to ramp up domestic market for them by adopting effective strategies, Minister for Industries, Law and Coir P. Rajeeve said today.

The Minister was speaking after inaugurating the state-level celebrations of National Handloom Day here. The event was organised by the Directorate of Handloom & Textiles of the Department of Industries and Commerce and the Directorate of Industries, Thiruvananthapuram.

Referring to the US imposing 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods and calling for a calibrated response to the emerging scenario, the Minister said “In the 1990s, the US advocated for globalisation and barrier-free trade. They also took a strong stance against tariff. Now they have built a high wall and that will affect sectors like handloom, textiles, coir, cashew and other value-added products.”

Noting that it is a transitional phase for handloom sector, the Minister said it is important to embrace a modern approach for sustaining the long handloom tradition of Kerala.

Extending the support of government to marketing initiatives, Rajeeve highlighted the importance of adopting new strategies, while increasingly tapping digital platforms like Kshoppe, since export is under the shadow of tariff threat.

“The government is keen to strengthen and preserve the handloom sector. It has allotted Rs 15 core to support Hantex,” he said, adding that pending wages for handloom workers will be disbursed before Onam.

Rajeeve said the work of Chendamangalam Handloom Village is in the final stage and will be opened this year. Tourists, who visit Muziris Heritage Project, will get an opportunity to experience weaving practices at the exclusive weaving centre of the Village.

While speaking about new activities in handloom sector, the Minister informed that a dyeing facility will be set up at Nadukani this year.

“So far, 30 people, who have studied design technology, have been appointed in 15 handloom clusters. They include 15 designers and 15 developers. They have brought out around 1000 novel designs,” he added.

The Minister also gave away state-level and district-level awards to Handloom Cooperative Societies and felicitated senior handloom workers on the occasion.

APM Mohammed Hanish, Principal Secretary, Industries, who presided over the function, said it is important to scale up popularity of value-added products through the brands ‘Make in Kerala’ and ‘Made in Kerala’.

Hanish added that we need to adopt new designs and trends to attract more youths to the sector and thereby, provide them a better livelihood.

In his welcome address, KS Kripakumar, Director, Handloom & Textiles Directorate, said the government is implementing various projects for the wellbeing of handloom workers, including aid for basic infrastructure development, marketing support, ensuring availability of raw materials and training.

National Handloom Day was celebrated with a variety of programmes, showcasing the socio-economic significance of Kerala’s handloom sector.

Dinesh R, Directorate of Industries, Thiruvananthapuram; V Gopinathan of Ecotex Handloom Consortium; T. K. Govindan Master, Chairman, Hanveev; M. M. Basheer, General Secretary, Kaithari Sahakarana Sangham Association; Parakkuzhi Surendran, State President, Kaithari Thozhilali Union; Subodhanan G, Kaithari Thozhilali Congress Working President; Prabhakaran Kuvalassery, Kaithari Thozhilali Union (AITUC) State Committee Member, and N Sreedhanyan Executive Director, IIHT, Kannur also attended.

Highlights of the celebrations included an exhibition of trendy handloom products, a fashion show by students of Indian Institute of Handloom Technology (IIHT), Kannur, launch of three newly-formed handloom clusters in Thiruvananthapuram district, distribution of state and district level awards, honouring of senior weavers and stage programmes by children of handloom workers.

National Handloom Day commemorates the launch of the Swadeshi Movement in 1905 as part of the freedom struggle with a clarion call to revive India’s time-honoured handloom sector as the pivot of the self-reliance campaign against the British colonial rule.

The inaugural ceremony was preceded by a technical session, where domain experts deliberated on live topics such as new trends and designs, significance of geographical indexing of home products, marketing strategies, design and printing and stress-free weaving practices.

The speakers included Brijesh K V, Technical Superintendent IIHT Kannur; Dr. Carolin Baby, Faculty Member IFT Kollam and Shri G. Sukumaran Nair, Senior Lecturer (Retd.), IIHT Salem.