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The
Assam Apex Weavers & Artisans Co-operative Federation Ltd. (ARTFED) was
formed on 27th July 1977 by reorganizing the Assam Apex Weavers
Co-operative Society Ltd. with the aims and objects that the Apex
Society shall organize Handloom Weaving and other Cottage Industries in
the state on Co-operative basis. The area of operation of this Apex
Co-operative Federation is in the entire state of Assam. The Federation
has now 16 districts and 988 number of primary level Co-operative as its
members. The Co-operative Federation is creating employment
opportunities to lakhs of weavers and artisans in Handloom Weaving as
well as in Handicrafts activities throughout the year. The Federation is
also bearing responsibilities for social development of weavers and
Artisans of the State apart from economic development.
The Federation has expanded it's business to a considerable extent and
made reasonable profits during the last few years, ARTFED has
established 53 showrooms inside and outside the state and propose to
open another 5 showrooms within the financial year .Out of 53 showrooms,
48 showrooms are located inside the states and 5 showrooms are located
outside the state. The showrooms at Kolkata, Jaipur, Kanpur, Indore,
Delhi (yet to be opened), Lucknow (yet to be opened) and Bangalore (yet
to be opened) are owned by ARTFED as it's Capital assets. ARTFED has
already opened 8 showrooms in Guwahati city of which the showroom at
Rehabari is constructed at it's own land as a very sophisticated Air
Conditioned showroom of the North-Eastern Region. Another showroom near
Borjhar Airport is also under construction at it's own land and almost
completed for opening.
ARTFED has successfully implemented numbers of Centrally Sponsored and
Central Sector Schemes for Handloom and Handicrafts Sector for
Production, Marketing, Welfare, Research and Development, Export, etc.
ARTFED has taken a number of Schemes/Programmes for implementation since
1995-1996 for socio economic development of Handloom and Handicrafts
Sector. Almost all Schemes are sponsored by Govt. Of India, Ministry Of
Textiles, Office Of The Development Commissioner, Handlooms and Office
Of The Development Commissioner, Handicrafts. Due to successful
implementation of the Schemes, the rate of production of handloom
fabrics and productivity per weaver in household unit has gone up.The
fact of market expansion has also given increased annual income to
household unit of handloom weavers.
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