India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the Bharatiya Vastra Aevam Shilpkosh or the "textiles & crafts repository e-portal" which will serve as a one-of-a-kind knowledge platform that will lay down a framework to weave the past and present status of textile, clothing and related crafts with a focus on futuristic developments.
The Portal: Developed by the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), the digital portal will serve as a one-stop resource, providing information on new developments and current events relating to textiles and crafts.
- It will also provide access to a vast database including research papers, case studies, dissertations and doctoral theses on textiles, clothing and craft related areas.
- The portal was launched on the occasion of National Handloom Day Monday.
- To mark the event, the Prime Minister inaugurated a special three-day exhibition of exclusive handloom, handicraft and khadi products by awardee weavers, cooperative societies, producer companies and women self-help groups from across the country.
Initiatives: As part of the National Handloom Day celebrations, various initiatives have been undertaken across the country.
- Handloom weavers, entrepreneurs and handloom organizations (primary handloom weavers co-operative societies, apex societies etc) from all over the country have gathered at Handloom Haat to display their native handlooms and crafts to more people displaying handlooms, handicraft, jute items, and live demonstrations.
- Another exhibition of Handlooms and Handicrafts has been organized at Dilli Haat with 160 weavers and artisans from different parts of the country getting direct access to customers.
- As part of creating greater awareness among younger audiences about India’s vast handloom sector, a captivating two-week educational initiative has been organised at the National Crafts Museum.
- The initiative will provide over 10,000 students from 75 schools with a deeper understanding of Indian handlooms.
