Gangtok,December 11: (IPR) The National Handloom Expo 2019-2020 under National Handloom Development Programme kicked off at the premises of Directorate of Handicrafts and Handloom,Zero Point here today.

The mega exhibition starting w.e.f Dec 11-Dec 24 is being organised by the Sikkim Handloom and Handicrafts Development Corporation Ltd,an apex body under Directorate of Handlooms and Handicrafts and is being sponsored by the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handloom),Ministry of Textiles,Government of India.

Chief Guest,Dr.Thomas Chandy, Additional Chief Secretary, Commerce and Industries Department inaugurated the Expo. Also present were Smt Binita Thapa,Director,D.H.H,Shri Ram Debnath,representative of Weavers Service Centre (WSC),Kolkata,Senior Officers of D.H.H,press personals,staff and trainees of D.H.H and local gentry.

The Chief Guest visited each stall and interacted with the participants and expressed keen interest and happiness in the various activities.

The National Handloom Expo is a PAN India Programme and a total numbers of 60 stalls have been allotted to various weavers and SHGs from seven different states viz ,Assam,Bihar,J&K,West Bengal,Gujarat,Uttar Pradesh and the host state Sikkim.

A wide variety of sarees, bed sheets, dress materials, household items, bed-covers, bed-sheets, and fabrics from various parts of the country are available for sale at an affordable price.

The Expo is basically being organised to provide a platform for the artisans,weavers,sellers and buyers to converge and create awareness vis-a-vis the handloom sector as an employment and income generating industry.

Further,the Expo also offers an opportunity for creating sustainable cottage industry in every home and village as envisioned by the State Government.