Shillong: Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh on Saturday announced that a Weavers’ Service Centre (WSC) will be established in Meghalaya once the state government provides the required land, highlighting that the Northeast currently has only one such facility in Guwahati.
Speaking after inaugurating the Integrated Textile & Tourism Centre (ITTC) at Nongpoh in Ri-Bhoi district and launching ‘EKTA Meghalaya’, Singh said the proposed WSC would provide design, technical, and marketing support to weavers across the region.
He added that the ITTC would serve as a comprehensive platform for training, design development, silk processing, product diversification, and textile tourism, enabling artisans to access national and international markets.
The minister noted that the Centre is implementing schemes to modernise weaving technologies, strengthen handloom clusters, and promote natural fibres globally.
Referring to the Northeast as the “pride of India’s textile heritage,” Singh said the Union government is committed to strengthening every segment of the region’s textile value chain.
He also announced initiatives to boost farmers’ income through the expansion of Muga sericulture.
“We discussed moving from two Muga crops to three so farmers can double their income. With best practices, one acre can yield four to five lakh rupees,” he said, adding that the Central Silk Board and the Meghalaya sericulture department would jointly take the initiative forward.
He highlighted that India is the only country producing all major silk varieties—Muga, Tasar, Mulberry, and Eri—and added that increasing Muga and Eri production in Meghalaya and the Northeast could position India as a global leader, especially as other countries shift towards synthetic alternatives.
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Meghalaya Textiles Minister Metbah Lyngdoh called the ITTC a transformative initiative that will empower artisans, rejuvenate the state’s silk heritage, and establish Nongpoh as a hub for textile tourism.
