The Ministry of Textiles has strengthened handloom weavers through NHDP with upgraded looms, worksheds, lighting units, producer companies.
DIMAPUR — The Ministry of Textiles has extended financial and infrastructural support to handloom weavers across the country under the National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP), providing assistance for upgraded looms and accessories, individual worksheds and lighting units during the last three financial years.
According to data released by the Ministry on Tuesday, Manipur recorded the highest number of upgraded looms and accessories among the northeastern states, with 25,002 units, followed by Assam (1,096), Arunachal Pradesh (523), Tripura (210), Nagaland (200) and Mizoram (30). Meghalaya did not record any upgraded looms or accessories under the programme during the period.
In terms of individual worksheds, Assam led the region with 694 worksheds, followed by Manipur (368), Mizoram (170), Arunachal Pradesh (155), Meghalaya (60), Tripura (27) and Nagaland (17).
Arunachal Pradesh recorded the highest number of lighting units provided under the programme in the Northeast, with 526 units, followed by Manipur with 450. No lighting units were provided in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland or Tripura during the period.
Also read: Nagaland gets INR 183.65 crore additional NDRF aid in 2025-26
Northeast Frontier Railway completes first India-Nepal direct commercial freight train
The NHDP provides need-based financial assistance for interventions such as upgraded looms and accessories, construction of individual worksheds, lighting units, and product and design development to improve the productivity and working conditions of handloom weavers.
The Ministry said the government is also promoting the formation and strengthening of Handloom Producer Companies (HPCs) as professionally managed, member-owned enterprises to organise weavers.
A total of 237 Handloom Producer Companies were established under the NHDP between 2020-21 and 2025-26.
To strengthen market access, around 1.50 lakh weavers and handloom entities have been onboarded onto the Government e-Marketplace (GeM), enabling them to sell handloom products to government departments.
The government has also developed India Handmade, a dedicated e-commerce platform for authentic handloom products, including GI-tagged items, where verified weavers and producer groups can sell directly to consumers.
According to the Ministry, 5,413 weavers were onboarded onto the India Handmade platform between 2023-24 and 2026-27 (up to June 30, 2026).