Weavers Gather in South Dinajpur to Discuss Modern Designs and Market Access

•            Empowering Artisans
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Kamal Kumar Biswas.TOD.Balurghat

The District Handloom Office of Dakshin Dinajpur on Wednesday convened a daylong seminar for weavers from Malda and the twin districts of North and South Dinajpur, aiming to address the challenges facing the traditional textile sector while introducing pathways to government support and new markets.The program began around 2 p.m. at the department’s conference hall in Thyangapara, drawing artisans from across the region. Many attendees said such meetings offer a rare opportunity to interact directly with officials and academic experts.

Among those present were Debashis Das, a professor from Calcutta University; Ashis Narayan Banerjee, an assistant professor at Visva-Bharati University; Falguni Ray, a Jute Development Officer from the Textile Directorate; Laxman Basak, deputy director (enforcement) of the West Bengal government; and Debasish Halder, assistant director, along with other officials.Discussions centered on the current state of the handloom industry, ways to expand market reach, and the need to modernize designs without losing traditional identity. Representatives of the department also outlined how weavers could benefit from various state and federal welfare schemes, including financial assistance, training programs and marketing support.Officials expressed hope that sustained outreach of this kind would help organize the sector, improve incomes and make local weaving communities more competitive in a changing marketplace.