Odisha Govt Employees Appealed To Wear Handloom Once A Week

Bhubaneswar: With a view to promote the use of local handloom and hand woven cloths and to support the state’s weavers, Principal Secretary, Handloom, Handicrafts and Textiles Department, Arabinda Padhee has written a letter to all the District Collectors of Odisha to encourage the government employees to wear them once a week.

In his letter to the Collectors, Arabinda Padhee has written that “Our culture is our brand. Odisha’s handlooms have always been the hallmark of showcasing the rich cultural and vibrant artistic heritage of the State. The handloom products of Odisha have received national and international acclaim for highly artistic design, craftsmanship and durability. To establish their uniqueness, 9 (nine) different handloom products have already received GI tags.”

“I wish to make a heartfelt appeal for your consideration to request Government employees working in your districts and others, to ‘voluntarily’ wear hand-woven fabrics at least one day a week. You may decide the day of the week, depending on local factors, and holding cultural considerations, if any. Those in uniform or official dress code may please be excluded from this endeavor”, he wrote.

“I am happy to note that few of you have already taken the leadership in this regard. In the Departments of Agriculture & FE and Handlooms, Textiles & Handicrafts, officials and staff have already started wearing hand-woven products in most of the week days. This is indeed heartening!”
The purpose of this appeal is to sustain our dexterous weavers and preserve their pristine art, besides establishing a conducive market environment” he wrote in the letter.