On his maiden visit to his constituency Varanasi after becoming Prime Minister, Narendra Modi urged weavers of one of the oldest cities in the world to embrace modern technology and platforms.
“Every mother wants to gift a Banarasi saree to her daughter for her wedding,” the Prime Minister said, adding that this gave an assured market of crores of sarees for Varanasi.
Modi said the weavers should take advantage of the global market offered by e-commerce and also adapt to the changing needs of clients.
“The requirement now is to meet this demand and satisfy the customer with modern design, products and service.”
The Prime Minister, who is on a two-day visit to Varanasi, laid the foundation for a Trade Facilitation Centre and Crafts Museum and inaugurated a Powerloom Service Centre, according to an official release.
For its part, the Government is working towards revitalising the textile sector through a scientific approach and by providing new technology, Modi said.
The Prime Minister said the new centre would encapsulate the heritage of Varanasi at one place.
He said the Government’s recent decision for a ₹2,375-crore revival package for district cooperative banks, of which 16 are in eastern Uttar Pradesh, would ensure easy availability of credit to the lower and middle classes and help revive the handloom and power-loom sectors.
Invoking the “ Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb ” (symbolising peace and harmony) as Varanasi`s heritage, Modi said, “textile workers weave not just cloth, but through the harmonious nature of their workplace, they also weave the fabric of a cohesive, harmonious society.”