Guwahati, Jul 19 (PTI) The Assam government on Tuesday launched an initiative to empower the indigenous weavers of the state and provide financial support to their families.Under the ‘Swanirbhar Naari’ scheme, the state government will procure handloom items directly from the indigenous weavers via a web portal without the involvment any middlemen, an official release here said.Launching the scheme, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma highlighted the rich history of the handloom and textile sector of Assam and the important role it had been playing in the state’s economy.Maintaining that Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a distinguished identity to Assamese ‘gamosa’ (traditional scarf or towel) by wearing it on different occasions, Sarma said this has immensely popularised it everywhere.He urged the Handloom & Textiles department to promote Assamese gamosa, which is a unique handloom product, across the country.Sarma also called upon organisations and people of the state to use gamosa.An initiative of the textiles department, 31 hand-woven items are covered under the new scheme. After procurement, the products will be sold through government outlets in the state as well as outside.According to the release, the portal is expected to bridge the gap between the weavers and the buyers. PTI SSG RMS RMS