Assam’s silk products to don new trademark

Responding to the demand of the Sualkuchi

weavers for a separate silk trademark, the Government of Assam, will soon launch a distinct silk trademark for the state’s silk products, Pranati Phukan, Assam’s Minister for Sericulture, Handloom, and Textile & Cultural Affairs, told at a meeting organized on the last day of the Karbi Jutang Festival at Bakaliaghat in Karbi Anglong.

She added that the state government does not plan to impose a ban on the sale of Benarasi silk products in the state. However, it is determined to conserve the traditions of Sualkuchi and would give importance to sale of silk products of Sualkuchi. The affluent culture of the single indigenous tribe of the state adds to the state’s unity and uniqueness. It is not possible to think of the state’s cultural development, in absence of development of culture of these tribes, the Minister said.

Assam is the third largest silk producing state in India and accounts for 99 per cent and 65 per cent of all Muga and Eri silk produced in India. Sualkuchi, popularly known as ‘Manchester of Assam’, is an old craft village on the northern banks of the river Brahmaputra, having silk-rearing and weaving communities as a majority of its population.