New Delhi, August 2: Dr. M. Beena, the Development Commissioner (Handlooms) of the Ministry of Textiles, emphasized the potential of partnerships with leading institutions like IIT and NIFT to develop technological solutions. These innovations aim to ease the workload of weavers, incorporate scientific precision into traditional weaving processes, and enhance their livelihoods.
Speaking at the ‘Handloom Hackathon 2.0’ held at the Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT) at IIT Delhi, Dr. Beena elaborated on the complementary relationship between India’s rich handloom heritage and modern technology.
The hackathon, organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Textiles, saw participation from over 2,500 individuals. Among them, 280 participants from the top 100 selected teams worked on technology-based solutions for the handloom sector.
Dr. Beena stated, “Handloom symbolizes our rich heritage, while technology represents the future. Through the Handloom Hackathon, we are striving to uplift the weaving community by bridging these two domains.”
She further noted that handloom naturally promotes sustainable development and circular economy practices. Dr. Beena stressed the need for innovation in loom operations, design development, and modern marketing strategies.
Dr. Deepti Gupta, head of the Textile and Fiber Engineering Department at IIT Delhi, mentioned that the upcoming ‘Center of Excellence for Handloom Technology’ will further strengthen the integration of handloom and technology. This initiative aims to ensure greater standardization and productivity while preserving the uniqueness of handmade textiles.
The center is expected to be inaugurated next week in collaboration with the Ministry of Textiles.
The hackathon reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to fostering innovation, collaborative research, and technology-based interventions to strengthen India’s handloom ecosystem.
According to the statement, this initiative aims to encourage young innovators to develop practical solutions for the sector, thereby improving productivity, sustainability, and market competitiveness while preserving the country’s rich handloom heritage.
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S.A.K./V.C.
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