Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Tuesday that the state government would purchase hand-woven `Gamosa’ worth Rs. 100 crore from local weavers during the Bihu season. The government has also decided to enforce a complete ban on the manufacture and sale of certain traditional handloom textiles produced by powerlooms.

“District administration will launch a drive against powerloom-manufactured Gamosa’ and Mekhela Chador’ across the state. We will strictly implement the ban so that locally hand-woven products like Gamosa and Mekhela Chador get their real price and value,” Sarma said while addressing a press conference.

Sarma added that the decision was taken to improve the financial condition of 15 lakh weavers who are directly associated with the handloom and handicrafts sector in the state. The move is part of a larger effort to raise awareness of the traditional weaving industry and discourage the use of machine-made products.

Notably, the government promulgated the Handlooms (Reservation of Articles for Production) Act, 1985 to protect handlooms and weavers from the encroachment of the power loom and mill sector on their livelihood. Eleven textile articles, including Gamosa, with certain technical specifications, are exclusively reserved for production on handlooms.

However, powerloom gamosa enters the Bihu market in Assam, violating the Act and dampening the livelihood of indigenous weavers.

Chief Minister Sarma also announced plans to attempt a world record for the largest Bihu dance performance at Guwahati's Sarusajai stadium on April 14. The event will feature 11,500 dancers and dholis performing the traditional folk dance of Assam in a single frame, with the goal of registering the achievement in the Guinness Book of World Records.

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