The government is putting all out efforts to confine the production of ‘Leirum Phee’ in Manipur as it is a sacred fabric for the Manipuris, commerce, textiles and industry minister, Th Biswajit stated on Monday.
Interacting with the media at his official quarter at Sanjenthong, the minister said that the directorate of handloom and textiles has already written to the central ministry for taking up immediate steps to stop the large scale production of ‘Leirum Phee’ designed ‘Lengyan’ at a manufacturing unit in Uttar Pradesh.
The directorate on Monday also convened a meeting in the presence of the minister concerned and other cultural experts.
The minister after the meeting assured that he will personally apprise the union minister through an official letter to stop mass production of the state’s traditional stole at a manufacturing unit by use of power-loom in the interest of the state’s traditional handloom weavers.
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He also said that the process for registering the ‘Leirum Phee’ under geographical indication of goods (registration and protection) Act, 1999 is ongoing and the government after consulting the experts, is considering the inclusion of the Leirum designed lengyan under the category of ‘Leirum Phee’.
Meanwhile, the commerce, textiles and industry minister also released yarn passbook to be distributed to weavers of the state for availing 20 per cent subsidy on any kind of yarn.
While intimating that altogether 10,000 passbooks have been released as the first phase, he appealed to the weavers of the state to enroll for the card, which is to be made available through the district project managers.
The minister opined that the yarn passbook will help the weavers during this lockdown period and at the same time enhance their livelihood. He pointed out that Manipur is the state with most weavers’ concentration and next to agriculture, weaving and handloom industries is crucial in economic enhancement of the state.
Biswajit further urged the weavers not to stop weaving and the people of the state to promote local products for ensuring self-sustenance.
