Shillong: Meghalaya additional chief secretary K.N. Kumar on Tuesday expressed concern over the lack of growth in the sericulture and weaving sector.

Speaking at the National Handloom Day programme at the department of sericulture and weaving here, he said, "Despite its importance and dependence of a large number of people, I regret to say this sector is not growing at all. We are producing just 300 metric tonnes silk annually for almost a decade. We have not been able to make any difference."

While pointing out the difficulties faced by weavers, he said they are not sufficiently organised, have numerous grievances, including low wages, and that the younger generation does not want to enter the profession. "The number of handloom weavers is declining," he said.

He, however, said the young urban people are actively participating in the fashion industry and mostly rely on natural silk, which in turn is creating a demand for products of the weavers.

On the North Eastern Region Textile Promotion Scheme under which 72 textile clusters have been established in the state, Kumar said, "Through this scheme, we are providing a range of services to weavers to help increase value, upgrade technology, improve their designs and also diversify product lines and provide better access to domestic and export markets."

He also requested minister for sericulture and weaving Banteidor Lyngdoh to establish a weavers' service centre for promotion of entrepreneurship. He also suggested to the minister to start a six-month handloom entrepreneurship programme for interested youths at the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Shillong.

According to a survey conducted by the directorate of sericulture and weaving, there are 40,576 weavers and 70 handloom co-operative societies in the state.

Though sericulture and handloom weaving are integrally connected, the state heavily relies on cotton and acrylic for most weaving purposes since raw silk is difficult and expensive to procure.

Lyngdoh said, "I will do my best and will meet the Union minister for textiles soon on the weavers' service centre. I will try to bring in more funds to initiate more schemes to help weavers."

Meghalaya governor Ganga Prasad encouraged the youth to blend handloom with fashion and termed it as a "wonderful incentive".

"Let us make handloom more fashionable so that we can attract people and create a demand for handloom products made of eri, muga, and mulberry silk," he said.

He also urged the state government to help promote and market weavers' products.

Earlier, weaver and silkworm rearer B. Syiem stressed on the need for better weaving houses and also facilities to help in selling and marketing products.