Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has virtually inaugurated the Chief Minister’s Yarn Bank Scheme from his Residential Complex in Kohima.
KOHIMA — In a move aimed at ensuring a dependable source of high-quality natural yarn to weavers from the state at affordable prices, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Friday virtually inaugurated the Chief Minister’s Yarn Bank Scheme from his Residential Complex in Kohima.
The scheme was inaugurated coinciding the occasion of National Handloom Day 2026, in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister TR Zeliang, Advisor of Industries and Commerce Department Hekani Jakhalu, and other officials.
Under this scheme, natural yarns such as cotton, eri silk, muga silk, bamboo fibre, and other natural fibre blends will be made available at mill-gate prices. The Government of Nagaland will provide a 15 per cent subsidy, making these essential raw materials significantly affordable and accessible for weavers.
Speaking on the occasion, Rio said the scheme is expected to benefit between 5,000 and 10,000 weavers annually, adding that eligible weavers with a Yarn Pass Book will be able to procure yarn directly from the Yarn Bank, ensuring a transparent, reliable and efficient distribution system.
This dedicated and centralised facility is being set up at the District Industries Centre, State Industrial Park, in Dimapur, state’s main commercial hub.
Maintaining that this initiative is an expression of the government's commitment to strengthening the handloom sector and supporting the livelihoods of the artisans, the CM said his government believes the weavers deserve better.
“When quality yarn reaches the loom without difficulty, our weavers can devote their full energy to creativity and craftsmanship. Household incomes become more secure, productivity improves, and our traditional designs continue to flourish with renewed confidence,” he said.
He added that this initiative also reflects the broader vision of preserving cultural heritage while creating sustainable economic opportunities, as ‘handloom is not only a symbol of our identity but is also an important source of livelihood for thousands of families across our State’.
‘Supporting weavers means strengthening our rural economy, empowering women, promoting entrepreneurship, and preserving one of Nagaland's greatest cultural assets,’ he said, while calling upon all eligible weavers across the state to avail the scheme.
Rio also encouraged the departments, cooperative societies, self-help groups, village institutions and community leaders to work together, to ensure that every deserving artisan is benefited.
The scheme will serve as a lasting symbol of recognition that the labour of our weavers is invaluable, skills irreplaceable, and their contribution to Nagaland's cultural and economic life is beyond measure, he said, while describing handloom as a “quiet rhythm of our villages, the patient artistry of mothers and sisters, and the colourful expression of the heritage of every Naga tribe”.
Every shawl, every wrap, every motif woven on the loom carries with it stories of ancestors, symbols of identity, and the enduring values of communities, he continued.
He also paid tribute to weavers across Nagaland and acknowledged the women who form the backbone of the handloom sector.
Hekani Jakhalu also spoke at the programme, which was chaired by Kumar Ramnikant, Secretary to department of Industries and Commerce.