Commerce and Industries minister Govindas Konthoujam at inauguration of `Buyers and Sellers Meet 2015’ held yesterday announced that the state government plans to soon introduce State handloom products as uniforms of school students and its employees. The meet has been organized to help weavers, designers and artisans of Manipuri handloom increase their income. Similar meets will also be organized in the other districts soon.

The Minister said that state artisans have been producing unique designs which are very much popular both in and outside the State. But it has also been found that imitations of several patterns and designs which are unique to the State like the temple design (Moirang Phee) sold in markets of several other States.

Owing to such imitations, three patterns the Saphee Lanphee, Moirang Phee and Wangkhei Phee had got Geographical Indication registration from the ministry of Textile, Government of India, the minister said declaring that anyone trying to copy the patterns would have to take prior permission from the State Directorate of Commerce and Industry now.

The directorate is also trying to process the GI registration of the Mapan Naiba, Potloi, Khamenchatpa and Kouna products from the central ministry.

The Integrated Handlooms Development Scheme (IHDS) was introduced in 2007-08 under the Ministry of Textile and Handloom and the State received sanction for creation of 54 handloom clusters during 2013-14. The State is now seeking sanction for 51 handloom clusters for 2014-15 from the ministry.

The department of Commerce and Industries has collaborated with the NIC to monitor every cluster development in all districts by nominating Cluster Development Executive. Every cluster has to upload the details of their work done every week on the website of the directorate through the Geo Information System. Govindas will also be looking into the development of sericulture in the State.

The Buyers and Sellers meet was held at the Ningthoukhong Kha Maning Leikai Indoor Stadium organised jointly by the directorate of Commerce and Industries and the Manipur Apex Handloom Weaver and Handicraft Artisan Co-operation Society.