Summary:
Bhubaneswar: With an aim to ensure comprehensive growth of handlooms and handicrafts sectors, the state cabinet on Thursday approved to establish the handlooms and handicrafts development and promotion council. Also, the cabinet restructures the Odisha Transport Engineering Service and Odisha Sub-Ordinate Transport Engineering Service cadres . It would function under the administrative control of the handlooms, textiles and handicrafts department, said official sources said. "The council will assess the impact of various schemes and programmes being implemented for weavers and artisans and advice the government for framing policies for the handlooms and handicrafts sectors," said the chief secretary. After agriculture, over 5 lakh families especially from western Odisha are dependent on handloom and handicraft sectors for their livelihood..