Maharashtra launches handloom hub to train 5,000 women and export sarees

The Dhapewada handloom centre, launched in 2021, offers skill-building programmes for women in Maharashtra's Vidarbha region and manufactures tussar silk, silk-cotton and cotton sarees. Nitin Gadkari explained that the venture seeks to create 5,000 jobs for women while expanding sales beyond local markets through exports and AI-driven market access. Early doubts about demand have eased as product quality improved.

The model is being replicated in Gadchiroli and Washim, with a new unit slated for Khapa in Nagpur district. Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh praised the project's capacity to provide families with earnings of around Rs 30,000 per month year-round. Long-term success will depend on sustaining demand, broadening market channels, and ensuring benefits reach the weaving communities.