Underscoring the importance of'Handloom Mark'label,a government official said the label is a mark of guarantee offered by the Government of India,which helps people distinguish original handicraft items from the fake ones.
Speaking during the opening ceremony of the Handloom Mark awareness programme in Tamil Nadu's Kaikkurichi village,D Dhandapani,Deputy Director of Textiles Committee,Karur,attached to the Office of the Development Commissioner of Handlooms,Union Ministry of Textiles,said the programme is intended to generate awareness amongst youth,especially women,regarding the'Handloom Mark Scheme'.
Introduced by the Prime Minister in 2006,the scheme is intended at bestowing handicraft products with a unique identity,and stop powerlooms from duplicating such products and marketing them as handlooms.
Under the Scheme,attaching the Handloom Mark to powerloom products is an offence,liable for penalty or punishment or both.
Highlighting the significance of handlooms,Mr.Dhandapani said epitomizing the country's rich cultural heritage the sector is a great source of employment for rural people.The handloom industry directly employs over 6.5 million people in the country,who produce eco-friendly products.
The exclusivity of handloom products lies in that some unique and intricate designs can only be made in handlooms.There is also a scope for fusing latest fashion trends in handloom products,while some custom-made products can only be produced on handlooms.
All regions of India have their own areas of expertise in handloom craft,like Banarasi silk,Pochampalli tie and dye,Madurai Sungadi,Chanderi silk and Kancheepuram silk.
