Hema Malini inaugurates Dhapewada Textile building in Nagpur, project aims at jobs for 5,000 women

The new building of Dhapewada Textile Udyog Producer Company Limited was inaugurated at Dhapewada in Nagpur district. Actor and MP Hema Malini cut the ribbon and formally launched the handloom enterprise. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari presided over the event. The project aims to provide employment to 5,000 women.

Gadkari said every home in the Halba tribal community once had a handloom, but with time the tradition had reached the verge of extinction. He said the Dhapewada Textile project was started to restore the traditional handloom industry to its old glory and to open new employment opportunities for women in the weaver community.

The initiative is a step towards linking Vidarbha's traditional handloom industry with modern fashion, design and the global market. It aims to give new recognition to the skills of local artisans, connect the younger generation with the tradition and create new jobs in the area. Traditional weaving is being backed with training, technical support and access to new markets.

The new building is bringing together training, workspace and production-related facilities for weavers. Women's participation and economic self-reliance have been given special importance in the initiative. Rugs and mats made from waste cloth are examples of the women's ingenuity and skill. The effort to turn discarded cloth into useful items increases environmental responsibility on the one hand and creates new employment and income opportunities for women on the other.

So far, more than 350 women have found local employment through the Pachgaon handloom project and more than 500 through Dhapewada Textile Udyog Producer Company Limited. The prospects of extending the products' reach to Indian and international markets are an important step towards giving their work wider recognition.

Gadkari said the initiative began in 2021 with training for women. There were initial doubts about the market, but demand for the products has risen rapidly since quality improved. Centres have also been started in Gadchiroli and Washim districts to increase production capacity. There are plans to start a project at Khapa in future. The effort is to take Dhapewada Textile to the global level with the help of AI.

During the event, Hema Malini closely inspected the entire project and praised it warmly. Gadkari presented her with the sari she liked most during the tour. Hema Malini said she had a very old and unbreakable bond with Nagpur. Praising Gadkari's innovative thinking, she said Dhapewada Textile was not only providing jobs to women but also, through platforms such as fashion shows, giving traditional saris from different regions an international stage.

Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh said that whatever work Gadkari takes up, be it roads, agriculture or textiles, he does not stop until it is completed. He said the textile industry has huge potential for job creation and the Dhapewada project would be a milestone. He expressed confidence that the project could give families in the weaver community a regular income of Rs 29,000 to Rs 30,000 a month throughout the year.

The main attraction of the event was a fashion show presented by professional models from Mumbai. The artistic designs of Karvatkathi tussar silk, silk cotton and patti kinar cotton saris won over the audience. When local women weavers from Dhapewada walked the ramp alongside the Mumbai models, the entire hall resounded with applause.

Maharashtra Textiles Minister Sanjay Savkare said Gadkari had given Dhapewada a new global identity. He said the fashion show would boost the marketing of the traditional art. Rajiv Potdar, Kanchan Gadkari, Charan Singh Thakur, Sameer Meghe, Neeta Thakre and Leela Hathibed were present at the ceremony.