The Nagaland government on Friday launched the Chief Minister’s Yarn Bank Scheme aimed at improving access to affordable, quality raw materials for weavers across the State.
Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio virtually inaugurated the scheme at the Chief Minister’s Residential Complex, Kohima, on the occasion of the 12th National Handloom Day, describing it as a significant step towards strengthening Nagaland’s handloom sector and improving the livelihoods of thousands of weavers.
Under the scheme, natural yarns including cotton, eri silk, muga silk, bamboo fibre and other natural fibre blends will be made available to eligible weavers at mill-gate prices. The government will provide a 15% subsidy to make the raw materials more affordable.
The scheme is expected to benefit between 5,000 and 10,000 weavers annually. Eligible weavers with a Yarn Pass Book will be able to procure yarn directly from the Yarn Bank through a transparent distribution system.
The Yarn Bank has been established at the District Industries Centre, State Industrial Park, Toluvi, Dimapur.
Launching the initiative, Rio said access to good-quality natural yarn at affordable prices has been one of the major challenges faced by weavers in Nagaland. He said many artisans have had to travel long distances to procure raw materials, resulting in increased transportation costs and higher production expenses.
He said the initiative would reduce the burden on weavers while creating better opportunities to improve productivity and household incomes.
“Handloom is not merely a traditional craft but a living heritage that reflects the identity, culture and spirit of the Naga people,” Rio said, adding that shawls, wraps and woven motifs carry the stories and traditions of various Naga communities.
The Chief Minister also acknowledged the contribution of women weavers, describing them as the backbone of the State’s handloom sector.
Advisor for Industries & Commerce Hekani Jakhalu said the launch of the Yarn Bank marked an important milestone for Nagaland’s textile sector as it addressed one of the biggest challenges faced by artisans – access to quality yarn at affordable prices.
She said the scheme has been implemented under the National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP) in accordance with the Ministry of Textiles’ Raw Material Supply Scheme (RMSS) guidelines.
Jakhalu said eligible weavers must possess a valid Handloom Mark Identity Card and register through the designated mobile application. Verification will be conducted through the State Handloom Database and census records.
She added that active weavers above 18 years of age and registered cooperative societies with a minimum of 10 members would be eligible under the scheme.
To ensure transparency, the department will establish a digital dashboard for inventory management and subsidy tracking, along with third-party audits, district-level monitoring committees, a toll-free helpline and grievance redressal mechanism.
Jakhalu said the department is also updating the State’s weavers’ database to ensure that benefits reach genuine artisans.
The Chief Minister said the Yarn Bank is part of the government’s broader vision to preserve Nagaland’s cultural heritage while creating sustainable economic opportunities, empowering women, strengthening rural livelihoods and promoting entrepreneurship.