Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 28 Jan: The Uttarakhand Cooperative Silk Federation will send silk weavers from the state on study tours to four states to enable them to gain first-hand experience of modern technology, innovative designs, and advanced silk production processes. This announcement was made by the Minister for Cooperation, Dr Dhan Singh Rawat, on the occasion of the inauguration of the fourth retail outlet of Doon Silk on Rajpur Road, Dehradun.
Dr Rawat stated that the study tours would enhance the skills and efficiency of silk weavers and help them adopt best practices followed in other states for implementation in Uttarakhand. He directed the Silk Federation to ensure that the tour programme is well-planned and goal-oriented so that the weavers derive maximum benefit from it.
During the programme, the Cooperation Minister also interacted directly with the silk weavers. He asked them whether the Silk Federation was working with transparency and honesty. In response, the weavers unanimously praised the functioning of the Federation, stating that complete transparency is being maintained in the implementation of schemes, payment systems, and training programmes, which is directly benefiting them.
Dr Rawat said that the state government is working in the cooperative sector with transparency, accountability, and the welfare of farmers and weavers as top priorities, resulting in positive outcomes at the grassroots level.
On the occasion, a weaving workshop was also organised, and under the Silk Samagra Project, cheques and certificates were distributed to beneficiaries. Cheques were distributed to 25 silkworm rearers, while certificates were awarded to beneficiaries associated with the weaving sector.
Managing Director of the Federation, Anand Shukla stated that the Silk Federation aims to empower 10,000 women in the state as “Lakhpati Didis”. He stated that the fourth Doon Silk outlet has been inaugurated today and that six more outlets will be opened in other cities of the state in the near future. He also informed that the Federation has set a business target of Rs 10 crore for the coming year.
On this occasion, Secretary (Cooperation) Dr Iqbal Ahmed visited the Doon Silk outlet and reviewed the Federation’s functioning and activities of Doon Silk.
The programme was attended by Director (Sericulture) Pradeep Kumar, former Chairman Chaudhary Ajit Singh, General Manager Matbar Kandari, along with a large number of women weavers and silkworm-rearing beneficiaries associated with the Silk Federation.
