Chief Minister's yarn scheme launched to aid Manipur weavers

Chief Minister N Biren launched the 'Chief Minister's Yarn Scheme', aiming to provide yarn at reduced rates to weavers in Manipur. The scheme addresses the challenges weavers face in purchasing yarn, as prices are often set by businessmen without a standardized rate from private mills.

Manipur, according to the National Handloom Census report of 2019, has 2.13 lakh weavers and 2.11 lakh looms, showcasing a high concentration of weavers. Despite handloom's traditional significance, local weavers struggle with high yarn costs due to private mill pricing.

E Jiten, General Manager of Manipur Handloom & Handicraft Development Corporation (MHHDC), stated that the government first introduced a yarn scheme in 2017, which was discontinued in March 2022. The new 'Chief Minister's Yarn Scheme' is a revised version set to run until the financial year 2028-29.

The scheme aims to provide timely and affordable yarn to increase production quality and profitability for weavers. Weavers with photo IDs and yarn passbooks issued by the governments of India and Manipur will receive a 15 per cent discount on cotton, woollen, and silk yarn, and a 20 per cent discount on acrylic, polyester, and viscose yarn.