Ericsson to digitally empower 1,500 handloom weavers in UP

Lucknow, Sep 26 (IANS) Swedish communication technology firm Ericsson on Monday announced the launch of handloom cluster digital development project in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh.

The project, titled "Baank-e-Loom" and to be implemented in partnership with Delhi-based non-profit Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF), aims to digitally empower a community of nearly 1,500 handloom weavers in Saidanpur village of Barabanki.

The project will help weavers embrace new technologies and designs and scale up traditional weaving methods by employing information and communication technologies (ICT) tools in marketing and sales.

"The ‘Baank-e-Loom’ initiative aims to promote inclusive growth and development of the Barabanki handloom community. We are confident that this initiative will help make a positive impact on the weaver community," Manoj Dawane, Vice President at Ericsson India, said in a statement.

As part of the initiative, an e-commerce portal will be set up to channelise the sales of the products.

"Baank-e-Loom will show how digital interventions can empower a traditional weaving skill-based cluster and could be a replicable lesson for all the 470 handloom clusters of India," added Osama Manzar, Founder and Director, DEF.