NABARD highlights Delhi’s handloom weavers through two-day exhibition

NABARD, New Delhi Regional Office, organised an Exhibition-cum-Sale and Seminar on 10-11 August to commemorate National Handloom Day. The seminar deliberated on key challenges being faced by handloom sector such as sustainable development, enhancing competitiveness, and strategies for market expansion.


As a key note speaker , Dr. K. Mahesh, IAS, Secretary , Culture , GNCTD & MD Delhi Khadi & Village Industries Board emphasized the need for coordinated efforts among government agencies, financial institutions, artisans, and other stakeholders for the holistic development of the handloom sector.



Nabin Kumar Roy, Chief General Manager, NABARD, New Delhi Regional Office, highlighted the role of ecosystem enablers such as NABARD, the Government of India, NHDC, and other institutions in the sustainable development of the handloom and handicrafts sectors. He elaborated on NABARD’s support through financial and developmental interventions, including capacity building, technology upgradation, and market access initiatives, and called for collective efforts to develop the handloom identity for Delhi.


Chandan Kumar, CGM, RBI pointed that access to credit, adoption of technology, and skill development are essential for improving the competitiveness of the sector. Rajeev Ashok, MD, NHDC highlighted NHDC’s initiatives for promoting Geographical Indication (GI) products and improving the working conditions of weavers, while T.D. Shivakumar, CGM Exim Bank underscored the crucial role of financial institutions in expanding the global market reach of Indian handloom products.


Other speakers including weavers hoped for a coordinated approach by all the stakeholders and expressed hope that a beginning is being made by NABARD.


The seminar chaired by Dr. K. Mahesh, IAS, Managing Director, Delhi Khadi and Village Industries Board and Secretary, GNCTD was also attended by several distinguished dignitaries viz. Chandan Kumar, Chief General Manager, Reserve Bank of India, Nabin Kumar Roy, Chief General Manager, NABARD, Pushpas Pandey, Managing Director, NABCONS, Commodore Rajeev Ashok (Retd.), Managing Director, NHDC, T.D. Shivakumar, Chief General Manager, EXIM Bank, Dr. Shinju Mahajan, Director, NIFT Delhi,, and Vishesh Nautiyal, Director, Weavers’ Service Centre. In addition, all Lead District Managers of Delhi State, weavers’ cooperatives, artisan groups, and NABARD senior officers also actively participated in the programme.


As part of the Handloom Day , 7 stalls were put up for Exhibition cum Sale of Handloom products showcasing products from various states, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and Delhi. The exhibition featured Kanchipuram sarees, batik prints, dohars, dhotis, ready-made garments, table mats, durries, and other handcrafted products, attracting significant attention from visitors.