Shillong: Meghalaya is betting big on its looms. The 12th National Handloom Week concluded on August 14 at the Integrated Textile Tourism Complex in Nongpoh. Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma told the crowd that the state is shifting its focus to global markets through design and tech. “This is a celebration of Meghalaya, and a message to the country and the world that we are proud of our heritage,” he said.
Weavers in the state support 50,000 households. Women make up 70 percent of that workforce. In Ri-Bhoi district, the numbers are tighter, with 4,000 weavers and 3,200 sericulture farmers. Nearly 90 percent of them are women. The government is pushing resources into their hands to keep the economy moving. They distributed kits to 2,141 weavers in 2024-25 and another 2,448 in 2025-26.
Big money is moving into the sector. A Cluster Development Programme worth Rs 571.15 lakh is currently training 981 beneficiaries. The Central Silk Board pumped in Rs 2,198.24 lakh through Silk Samagra-2 since 2022-23. The state also launched the Centre of Excellence to teach Eri weaving to the next generation.
The shift started in 2021 when Umden-Diwon became the first Eri Silk Village. Later, the Design Innovation Resource Centre opened to handle the Ryndia chain. This year, the government secured GI recognition for Ryndia and Khasi handlooms. Minister of Textiles Metbah Lyngdoh now wants a Weavers’ Service Centre to act as a one-stop shop for artisans.
St Anthony’s College is training weavers to use Instagram for sales. The state is pushing the four Rs of the sector: Revival, Resilience, Resurgence, and Reimagination. New Ryndia Awards now honor entrepreneurs and designers. They want to turn old crafts into products that fit modern wardrobes.
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