- The Union Minister of Textiles Smriti Zubin Irani on August 26, 2019 laid the foundation stone of the Integrated Textiles Tourism Complex at Nongpoh, Ri Bhoi district of Meghalaya in the presence of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.
- The complex and the activities therein have been funded by the Government of India so that the art of Meghalaya prospers.
- The Union Minister informed that it has been the direction of the Prime Minister to skill the people of Meghalaya, specially for a state like Meghalaya which celebrates the aptitude of 54000 artisans in the beautiful state, to ensure that those who currently undertake crafts in wood, bamboo, stone carving, embroidering, pottery, dry flower and jewellery get benefitted and aided from the Government of India.
- She also announced that under the ‘Samarth’ scheme which erstwhile plans to skill 7,200 youth in apparel and garments, textiles and handloom sectors has now been extended, after the request of the Chief Minister, and now Meghalaya has the historic opportunity to skill 30,000 citizens.
- The Union Minister before laying the foundation stone earlier also interacted with the children and Anganwadi Workers at the Umdihar 1, Ri Bhoi district.
