The 5^th National Handloom Day was held today at 16 NIFT Campuses and Weavers’ Service Centres in different States across the country. Handloom Mela and exhibition, workshops, panel discussion were organised and special stalls were put up for handloom products at Gandhinagar and Kolkata NIFT campuses.

Events scheduled in Delhi for the National Handloom Day were cancelled to pay homage to Ex- Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj on her sad and sudden demise.

The mainfunction was organised in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.It was presided over by State Minister of Industries, Handloom, Handicraft and Textiles, Padmini Diyan. Secretary Textiles, Ravi Capoor, was the guest of honour. The function was attended by Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Sanjay Rastogi, and weavers from all over the state.

The following activities were undertaken on the occasion of 5^th National Handloom Day inBhubaneshwar and all across the country:

• 4^th All India Handloom Census report was released on the occasion.Certificates to beneficiaries of various schemes were distributed.
• A Workshop through IGNOU/NIOS to impart information about educational opportunities to weavers and their wards was organised.
• Live broadcast of discussion on Twitter from digital studio of IMG Reliance, involving young designers and prominent personalities from handloom sector.

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MM/ SB