Textile cluster will be soon coming up in Khaira block of Balasore district, which aims at bringing economic boom for the weavers who are mostly dependent on trade of handloom and handicraft products for their living.

With the establishment of the cluster, it would help strengthen the working capital base of the primary weavers’ cooperative societies to develop modernized looms, accessories, training to weavers, marketing support and design innovations.

Minister of State for Textiles Ajay Tamta replying to a question raised by MP Rabindra Kumar Jena in the Lok Sabha, said that a proposal for setting up a block-level cluster at Khaira in Balasore district has been approved under National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP).

The Minister further said that Rupees 48.52 lakh has been released out of Central share of Rs.147.04 lakh to cover 144 beneficiaries.

Earlier, Jena had submitted a proposal to the Ministry incorporating the demands of the weavers in the region who have been finding it hard to market and promote their products.

In a bid to provide assistance for modernization of textile industry, the Government has taken a large number of steps through its various policy initiatives and schemes. Special packages for employment generation and promotion of exports in textile and apparel sectors also have been launched recently.

As of now, the country has three power-loom clusters at Erode in Tamil Nadu, Bhilwara in Rajasthan and Ichalkaranji in Maharashtra while 11 more power-loom, handloom and silk clusters are coming up in 10 States.

In Odisha, cluster approach is being adopted where viable societies, NGOs and small and medium entrepreneurs will be actively associated for development of the sector.