INTRODUCTION

                                Handloom is an integral part of Assamese culture and society. Despite of being a cultural and social element, handloom is playing a major role in the rural economy of Assam.  In view of the growing demand in the global scenario handloom is a most promising sector in the development perspective. Consisting of various tribes and cultures, Dhemaji district has a colorful and rich tradition of handloom activities.  Various tribes of the district including Mising, Bodo, Deori, SonowalKachari, Tiwa etc. have their traditional unique style of weaving, colorful designs and motifs. There is enormous scope growth of the sector in the district.

        The office of the Superintendent, Handloom and Textiles, Dhemaji and Jonai under the Directorate of Handloom & Textiles, Govt of Assam is undertaking various development activities, implementing different projects and schemes for holistic development of the handloom sector in the district. 

Total Handloom Weavers of Dhemaji District   = 60,000 Nos. . (as per census report of 2011)

(a)          Full Time Weavers                           =             40,000 Nos.

(b)          Part Time Weavers                          =           20,000 Nos.
 

About Traditional Items of Various Tribes

(i) Mishing Tribe

                a. Ganro Ugan – Like Dhuti

                b. Mibo Galuk – Like half Jacket

                c. Gero – Like Riha

                d. Ribi Gaseng – Like Scarf

                e. Gadu (Mirijim) – Like Blanket

(ii) Deori Tribe :

1. Ecu – Used by man as Dhuti
2. Jakachiba – Used by women to cover waist
3. Baiga – Used by women to cover chest
4. Khania – Used as Bridal Cloth.

(iii) Bodo Tribe :

1. Arnai – Used as Muflar
2. Dakhana – Used by Bodo women like Mekhela.

(iv) General and OBC

1. Mekhela
2. Chaddar
3. Riha
4. Gamucha
5. Swal
6. Saree etc.

               Allround Development of the Handloom & Textiles sector in the District to increase productivity with high end quality to keep pace with the Global Fabric Market and also socio-economic development of the weaving society


Functions & Objectives :-

• Planning and implementation of schemes for development of Handloom & Textiles sector.
• Infrastructure Development
• Financial Management
• Regulatory
• Cooperative Management
   

Some of the major works of the department are :

1. Skill Development in Weaving,
2. Production of Handloom Fabrics,
3. Design Development
4. Welfare schemes which also contribute to productivity,
5. Publicity & Exhibition,
6. Organizing Weavers in Cooperative fold
7. Cluster-based Handloom Development
8. Enforcement of Handloom Reservation Act.

                                               

Weavers Extension Service Unit (WESU) (Total 04 Units)

Office of the Superintendent Handloom and Textiles has been operating 04 Nos. of Weavers Extension Service Units (WESU) throughout the District  of Dhemaji. Objective of the programme is to enable the weavers to weave clothes in their looms at home. The weavers are supplied with yarns from the Units along with technical assistance as and when necessary from the technical staff available in these centers. On return of woven fabrics the weavers receive wages as per approved rate of the Department.  

            About 1,000 weavers of the State are assisted through 04 WESUs every year. Besides providing all hands on extension services through technically skilled staff. Lack of working capital has staggered the activities of the WESUs in the recent years. Yet the units have been providing good extension services to the weavers of the District.  
 

  The list of WES Units are shown below:-

District	Sub-Division	Weavers Extension Service Unit
Dhemaji	Dhemaji	1.Dhemaji      2. Gogamukh,      3. Sisiborgaon
	Jonai	4.Simen chapari

Handloom Training Centre: -Artisan Training (Total 02 Centers)

 The Directorate of Handloom & Textiles is running 02 Handloom Training Centers throughout the District, particularly in rural areas to impart training for creating artisans and upgrading skills on handloom weaving, designing and dyeing etc. 

  The course duration of these centers is one year. The intake capacity of  15 to 20 trainees per Training Centre per session. Stipend provision of Rs. 80/- only per trainee per month is available. Total capacity of these 02 Handloom Training Centers is 35 persons per year. 

 The Handloom Training Centers are headed by one Instructor. The training is imparted with supporting staff of technical Demonstrators.

Handloom Production Center: (HPC) :

 The aim of the Handloom Production Centre is to produce decorative and value added quality fabrics under a common weaving shed each having about 40 to 50 looms attached with other improved appliances like draw boy, jacquard, take up and let off mechanism with common facility services. The weavers are to work at these centers under the supervision of technical persons and get wages against their products. There are 01 Handloom Production Center presently which is Non-functioning in condition. Lack of infrasstructure ,working capital etc. has, of late, staggered production level of the Handloom Production Centers.  

 

 The staff position of HPCs are as follows

Sl No.	Name of the post
1	Superintendent
2	Foreman
3	Master Weaver
4	Demonstrator
5	LDA cum Store Keeper
6	Grade-IV

Office Address And Location

Our Divisions Offices :

1.SUPERINTENDENT OF HANDLOOM & TEXTILES, NALANIPAM, DHEMAJI.

2.SUPERINTENDENT OF HANDLOOM & TEXTILES, RUKSING,JONAI.

3.HANDLOOM PRODUCTION CENTER LELUWANI, DHEMAJI.


Our Field Offices :

1.WEAVERS EXTENTION SERVICE UNIT SIMENCHAPORI.

2. WEAVERS EXTENTION SERVICE UNIT SISSIBORGAON.
    
3. WEAVERS EXTENTION SERVICE UNIT DHEMAJI.

4. WEAVERS EXTENTION SERVICE UNIT GOGAMUKH.
    
Our Training Center:

1. HANDLOOM TRAINING CENTER , DHEMAJI .
       LELUWANI, DHEMAJI.

 2. HANDLOOM TRAINING CENTER,  JONAI.
    RUKSIN ,JONAI

SCentral Govt. Schemes:-

1.Under National Handloom Development Programme(NHDP)
 Block Level Clusters.
2.  Integrated Handloom Development Scheme (IHDS)
4. Concessional Credit Weavers MUDRA Scheme (PMMY)
5. 10% Subsidy on Hank Yarn Scheme under NHDC.
6. PMJJBY.
7. MGBBY.

State Govt. Schemes:-

1.SOPD - G - Economic Upliftment of Handloom weavers through handloom weaving.
2. 20% Subsidy on Hank Yarn Scheme under ARTFED.

 

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