Photo Courtesy: E-Pao
Imphal: The Handloom and Textile Employees Union in Manipur wants the state government to scrap a rigid cadre system for appointing its Director. Union president Chingtam Luwang delivered a memorandum to the Chief Minister after the state issued an order on July 6, 2026. The union claims the current rules fail to account for the specialized nature of their work.
The Directorate became an independent entity in January 2017 after splitting from the Directorate of Commerce and Industries. It oversees textile production, design, quality control, and marketing. "The post of Director should be held by a technically qualified officer with at least 10 to 15 years of domain experience to ensure effective planning, implementation of government schemes and continued growth of the sector," the union stated.
Manipur holds the highest concentration of weavers and artisans in India according to the National Handloom Census 2019. Technical officers currently within the department hold degrees in fashion or textile technology. Leaders argue that outsiders lack the field experience required to manage handicrafts and textile development.
The union also pointed to the national Textile Summit held on June 23 and 24. They say the Ministry of Textiles expects state directorates to prioritize experienced technical leadership. Officials are now waiting for the government to act on their demands.
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