A programme was jointly organized by the district handlooms and textiles Bishnupur and handloom clusters of Bishnupur district under North East Region Textiles Promotion Schemes (NERTPS) on Monday at Ibudhou Oknarel Shanglen Hall of Ningthoukhong Bazaar where the Department of Commerce & Industries, Government of Manipur distributed cheque of Rs 2.6 lakh each to 11 handloom clusters of Bishnupur district.

The department distributed the first instalment of NERTPS in the form of cheque Rs 26,000 each to every Self Help Group (SHG) which is a cluster consisting of ten Self Help Groups (SHGs).

The distribution ceremony was attended by Commerce & Industries Minister Govindas Konthoujam who is also the Minister of Sericulture and Veterinary & Animal Husbandry attended the function as chief guest, Commerce and Industries Department B John Tlanginkhuma and deputy director of Commerce and Industries K Lamlee Kamei.

Speaking on the occasion, Govindas said that this is the first time that local weavers of Bishnupur to get the benefit under NERTPS. He appealed to the beneficiaries not to misuse the funds.

Deputy Director K Lamlee Kamei said that the broad objective of the North East Textile Promotion Scheme (NETPS) is to develop and modernise the textile sector in the North East Region by providing the required Government support in terms of raw material, seed banks, machinery, common facility centres, skill development, design and marketing support.

The specific objectives of the scheme include increase in the value of textile production, technology upgradation, improvement in design capability, diversification of product lines and value addition, better access to domestic and export markets, clusterisation and improvement in labour productivity, market access and market promotion.

This is the first trial to implement the NETPS scheme in the Bishnupur district. If the beneficiaries sincerely utilize the schemes successfully, many benefits will be continued to provide by the Government in the form of installment.

Kamei revealed that the present scheme is very unique and different when compared to the earlier schemes adding that under this scheme there are many components like establishing of separate Yarn Supply Schemes to provide raw material at subsidized rate to the weavers etc.

Handloom products of handloom clusters of Bishnupur were also on display for sell during the programme.