Agartala, Oct 17: Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles Pabitra Margherita has said the Northeast region has a larger contribution to handloom sector, having engaged the highest number of weavers in the country.

He said this while visiting the ‘Samarth’ skilling Centre at Fatikcherra in Mohanpur today. The Minister is on a three-day visit to the state.

During the visit to the Samarth Centre, being run under the Textile Ministry’s scheme, Shri Margherita said the “Samarth’ program aims at encouraging and empowering the weavers living in rural areas. He said the central government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has linked the weavers and handicraft artisans and government agencies to e-portals, that facilitates easy access to procurement and selling, besides participation in exhibitions across the country.

Earlier the day, the Union Minister has held a review meeting in Khowai and deliberate on progress of various centrally sponsored programs under education, healthcare, agriculture, rural connectivity and drinking water under Jal Jeevan Mission, being implemented in the district. After the deliberation, the Union Minister expressed satisfaction at the pace with which central government projects are being implemented in the district. He has also given constructive suggestion for betterment of road connectivity and to strengthen power sector.

The review meeting was attended by Smt Chandni Chandran, District Magistrate of Khowai , Sh. Abhijit Chakraborty ADM, Sh R. Arun Kumar, director, handloom and handicrafts and officials from different departments.

Talking to media after the review meeting, the minister said that the Northeast region was earlier regarded as periphery, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi has currently brought the region including Tripura on the centre-stage. He said the thrust of the Centre-State double engine governments has been laid to create a momentum in development process.

He said that the Prime Minister has termed the Northeast as Ashtalakshmi and he has also identified the region as the driving force or growth engine of nation’s development and accordingly the government is working to make this region and the states like Tripura more developed.

The Minister has also interacted with the women members of Self Help Groups and went round the exhibition stalls put up by the SHGs at Tulashikhar block in the district. The Union Minister praised the women folks from the tribal community for their traditional costumes like Rignai and Risha and asked them to conserve their distinct culture. Shri Margherita also inaugurated an upgraded Anganwadi Centre at Champacherra under Tulashikhar block of Khowai district.

District Magistrate and Collector of Khowai Chandani Chandran asserted that the Union Minister expressed satisfaction at the pace with which central government projects are being implemented in the district. She said the Union Minister has given constructive suggestion on road connectivity and to strengthen power sector.