A major portion of the State’s population is into handloom business after agriculture. As the handloom sector is facing a major challenge as weavers are giving up the profession and migrating to bigger citities.

A two-day workshop for officials of Textile and Handloom Department of the State Government has been organized in the Capital on Wednesday. The workshop aims at training the Department officials engaged in the sector of Government schemes and skill development.

During the training, officials will be trained on a strategy to motivate handloom workers to continue their familiar vocation.

The Minister for Textile and Handlooms Snehangini Churia said at the inauguration of the workshop said thate adversities, financial crunch and lack of awareness are the major reasons behind this trend.

Around two lakh workers are employed in this sector in Odisha. The State recorded a sale of Rs 165 crore in this sector whereas the target set for 2014-15 was Rs 200 crores.

Churia assured financial assistance for handloom workers in the APL category, a facility which was only available to the BPL families engaged in the trade.

Department Secretary Chitra Arumugam said that tradition, technology, talent, training and tourism are the major drivers to catapult handloom and project it internationally.