Khadi India to set up its first silk production center in Arunachal

The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has decided to open a center for silk in the tribal village Chullyu, Arunachal Pradesh.

This will be the first of its kind which will provide training as well as serve as production center. It will be launched next month.

The first batch of 25 local artisans from the village has already been selected to begin the training with.

“The training cum production center is the first of its kind facility in Arunachal Pradesh and a big boost to weaving activities in the entire region. Training of artisans and supporting the production of Eri Silk, which is indigenous to the North-Eastern states, will create local employment and sustainable development in the region which is aligned with the Prime Minister’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” VK Saxena, chairman, KVIC said in a statement.

KVIC has tied up with professional design institutes like National Institute of Fashion Technology (Nift) Shillong, National Institute of Design (NID) Jorhat for the initiative.

Local designers in Arunachal Pradesh have also been roped in to come up with a new designs that will suit the modern taste of tribal youths.

“KVIC will also create an exclusive page on its online portal to market their products,” Saxena said, adding that the move will boost jobs in the area.

The KVIC has refurbished and converted an old-school building into its training cum production center.

Silk is a popular fabric in Arunachal. Men and women alike, traditionally wear Eri Silk and Khadi Cotton clothes “which carries a deep significance to their egalitarian tribal society.”

However, the people of the state have to buy Silk from outside markets including those in Assam. However, as demand for the fabric increased over the years, the state has had to buy silk from outside markets including those in Assam.

The state government and KVIC have selected the village Chullyu because of its potential for silk production. Eri Silk traditionally weaves and worn by the tribals living here.

Khadi India has also identified the batch of 25 local artisans from the village to begin the training with.

The village is also known for its production of high-altitude honey, seeing the scope for the same, KVIC has distributed 250 honey bee boxes villager.

Located on the main highway just 30 km before the most popular tourist spot Ziro, Chullyu is a scenic village known for its eco-friendly ways of living.

It is easily approachable by tourists which is an advantage for the local artisans. KVIC aims to connect the center with the tourists visiting Ziro tourist spot and thus providing an assured market to the local artisans for their products.

“The production center will be equipped to cater to the market demand. For the initial period, KVIC will also provide raw material and expenditure on training and wages and the cost of developing the prototypes of new designs,” an official statement said..