UP Plans Govt Procurement Push For Local Handloom Products To Support Weavers

Lucknow, September 01: The Yogi government is promoting the procurement of locally manufactured handloom products in government institutions to boost the handloom and textile industry and provide maximum employment opportunities to the state's weavers. In this sequence, a review meeting was held on Tuesday in Room No. 80 of Vidhan Bhavan under the chairmanship of Khadi and Village Industries, Silk, Handloom and Textiles Minister Rakesh Sachan regarding ensuring the procurement and supply of bedsheets and gauze bandages used in the Health Department and other government departments and public sector undertakings.

At the meeting, Minister Rakesh Sachan stated that providing the state's weavers with a government procurement market is among the priorities of the Yogi government. He said, "With an increase in the procurement of quality textiles manufactured by local weavers in government institutions, lakhs of weaver families in the state will get employment and economic strength, while a permanent market will also be developed for textiles produced in the state."

It is noteworthy that at the National Handloom Day program organized by the Directorate of Handloom and Textiles, Uttar Pradesh, at Lok Bhavan, Lucknow, on August 07, 2026, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had directed that the procurement of bedsheets and gauze bandages, which are primarily used in the Health Department as well as government departments and public sector undertakings, be ensured. In compliance with the Chief Minister's directions, the action plan was discussed in detail during the meeting.

The meeting noted that approximately 2,13,107 weavers are working in the state. Weavers in different areas of the state are producing various textiles, including bedsheets and gauze bandages. Prioritizing these products in government procurement will provide a wider market for weavers' products and help connect the new generation with the traditional weaving profession.

Under the proposed arrangement discussed at the review meeting, the supply of bedsheets, pillow covers and gauze bandage cloth, as required, to government hospitals, medical colleges and universities through Uttar Pradesh State Handloom Corporation Limited was discussed. For this, quality production will be undertaken through weavers' cooperative societies and weavers of the state.

The development of a system under which the concerned medical institutions issue demands and purchase orders on time, according to their requirements, was also considered.

Minister Rakesh Sachan placed special emphasis on product quality. He stated, "The material supplied to government institutions must be of good quality and conform to the prescribed standards. The meeting also discussed designating nodal officers to make the supply system effective. The nodal officer will coordinate with various hospitals, medical colleges and universities, obtain information related to their requirements, prescribed specifications and supply, and provide it to the department. This will help ensure timely supply according to demand."

He stated, "The objective of procuring the reserved items prescribed by the Yogi government for the handloom sector is not merely to complete the process of government procurement, but to provide permanent employment and a market to the state's weaver families."

He said that when weavers have an assured market for their products, the younger generation associated with traditional weaving will also be attracted to this profession, giving fresh momentum to the state's rich handloom tradition.

He directed the officials to finalize the entire action plan at the earliest in accordance with the Chief Minister's directions. A detailed Standard Operating Procedure should be prepared covering all aspects, including product standards, quality testing, rate determination, receipt of demands, issuance of purchase orders, payment and timely supply.

He directed officials from the concerned departments to work in coordination and finalize the necessary points by next week.

Principal Secretary, Handloom and Textiles, Anil Sagar; Special Secretary Sheshmani Pandey; Joint Commissioner P. C. Thakur; along with officials from the Health Department, the Handloom and Textiles Department, and other concerned officials, were present at the meeting.