Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched an e -portal , ‘Bhartiya Vastra evam Shilpa Kosh - A Repository of Textiles & Crafts’ developed by the National Institute of Fashion Technology at an event held in New Delhi on 7 August 2023.

The event was organised by the Union Ministry of Textiles and Union Ministry of Micro,Small and Medium Enterprises on the occasion of the 9th National Handloom Day 2023.

The first Handloom day was observed on 7th August 2015.

Speaking on the occasion the Prime minister said that “ Ekta Mall is being developed in every capital city of the states by the government to promote handicrafts and products made from handlooms from every state and district under one roof which will benefit those associated with the handloom sector. “

India's first Ekta mall has been set up at the Statue of Unity in Kevadia ,Gujarat where tourists from India can buy products from any state under a single roof. Statue of Unity is the world's tallest statue. Its height is 182 metres and it is a statue of India’s first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

‘Bhartiya Vastra evam Shilpa Kosh - A Repository of Textiles & Crafts’

The ‘Bhartiya Vastra evam Shilpa Kosh - A Repository of Textiles & Crafts’ repository will serve as a one-of-a-kind knowledge platform that will document the past and present status of textile, clothing and related crafts with a focus on futuristic developments.
The digital portal will provide access to a vast database including research papers, case studies, dissertations and doctoral theses on textiles, clothing and craft related areas.
It will serve as a one stop resource, providing information on new developments and current events relating to textiles and crafts.

Union Minister for Textile : Piyush Goel

Union Minister for Micro,Small and Medium Enterprises: Narayan Rane