Meghalaya to get new Weavers’ Service Centre: Union Minister Giriraj Singh

Guwahati: Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh on Saturday announced that a Weavers’ Service Centre (WSC) will be established in Meghalaya once the state government allocates land.

Currently, the northeast has only one WSC in Guwahati.

He announced after inaugurating the Integrated Textile & Tourism Centre (ITTC) at Nongpoh in Ri-Bhoi district and launching the ‘EKTA Meghalaya’ initiative.

The proposed WSC will provide weavers with design, technical, and marketing support.

The ITTC will serve as a hub for training, design development, silk processing, product diversification, and textile tourism, helping artisans reach wider markets.

Singh highlighted efforts to modernise weaving technologies, strengthen handloom clusters, and promote natural fibres.

Calling the northeast the "pride of India’s textile heritage," he said the government aims to support every stage of the textile value chain in the region.

The minister also announced plans to boost farmers’ income by expanding Muga sericulture, increasing crop cycles from two to three, which could generate four to five lakh rupees per acre.

The Central Silk Board and Meghalaya’s sericulture department will jointly implement this initiative.

India produces all four major types of silk: Muga, Tasar, Mulberry, and Eri. Scaling up Muga and Eri production in the northeast could strengthen India’s global position as other countries shift to synthetic fibres.

Union Minister Pabitra Margherita noted the international recognition of northeast artisans, citing a Meghalaya weaver who showcased their work at the global textile event ‘BharatTex’.

He added that 52 percent of India’s handlooms are in the region and announced that state textile ministers will meet in Guwahati next month to discuss development plans.

Meghalaya Textiles Minister Metbah Lyngdoh described the ITTC as a transformative project that will support artisans, revive silk heritage, and position Nongpoh as a textile and tourism hub.

Developed under the North East Regional Textile Promotion Scheme, the centre will function as an artisan hub, a living textile museum, and an innovation space.

State Principal Secretary Frederick Kharkongor said the project marks Meghalaya’s "textile renaissance."