Bhubaneswar, 7.08.23 (Pratyusha Bureau):Handlooms occupy a major share in supporting large number of livelihoods in the rural economy. To upkeep the tradition, to integrate the weavers and provide training, design development, credit, etc, NABARD has been supporting for setting up of Off Farm Producer Organisations (OFPOS) across the country. Odisha has a beautiful tradition of handlooms providing livelihood to a large number of rural weavers. Most of these artisans and weavers find it hard to market their produce directly to consumers. NABARD has been supporting various types of marketing interventions to handloom weavers. NABARD, Odisha Regional Office celebrated National Handloom Day on 07 August 2023 in DN Regalia Mall, Bhubaneswar. As part of the celebrations, exclusive handloom stalls were sponsored in DN Regalia Mall for a period of 03 days. To showcase the Handloom tradition of the state of Odisha, “a fashion show” was organized. Shri Pradeep Kumar Jena, IAS, Chief Secretary graced the inaugural ceremony of the National Handloom Day Celebrations as the Hon’ble chief guest. He also inaugurated the stalls of OFPOS promoted by NABARD. The event was attended by Shri Shovan Krishna Sahu, Director-Textile & special secretary Industry, and Dr. Sudhanshu K.K. Mishra, CGM, NABARD, Odisha Regional Office. Weavers of the NABARD promoted handloom OFPOs in Odisha were invited to participate in this 3-day long stall in mall exhibition. For these weavers it will be a rare opportunity to showcase their products in a commercial mall and also reap the benefits of better sales directly and through orders. NABARD expects all to support this endeavor in promoting direct marketing opportunities to our traditional weavers.
