Couple of years ago felt the sad condition of Mumbai, where do I tell people to go and shop for authentic textiles like the answer I get in Delhi, go to Baba Kharak Singh marg. when I moved to Navi Mumbai in 2002 I had little time to explore. Commute and work took all the time
In 2005 I got to know about a Handloom Haveli in Nerul opposite Apna Market that housed many state co-ops ... I located it and there was this dusty, run of the mill cluster of stores. Many like Apco, Co-optex had by then shut down. It definitely was not the right location
Indrayani, Priyadharshini, and Sambalpuri and a private showroom with Rajasthan connection were still operational. I became a regular at #Sambalpuri ... Soon they shifted out to Vashi when the Odisha Bhavan was completed. Indrayani shut down, Rajasthani was also gone.
Two years ago Priyadharshini also shut down and now the complex is all shut. That was when I happened to hear about Tribes India Panvel having a closing down sale. So, went there, it is in the ITO complex and only truckers are seen in the area. So, where and how do you revive it?
That is when there was this great hope of the govt been open, ministries working together, co-operation etc., So I wanted to suggest why not Tribal affairs, Textile ministry and the state govt work together ... If CIDCO can give land to various state govts in Vashi to build
State govt bhavans why not a complex to house a handlooms, handicrafts bhavan? Cottage opened in InorBit and shut down. We know what mall rentals can be. But, when I tried to speak I was told state goVt and central govt and the Nerul one I must be mistaken that it is centre
This was the one I was trying to talk about 
We dont know who owned it, or whose initiative, but may be the plaque can give some indication
We all know importance of institutional support, and also how it can be misused. But, to make everyone look like fools and unworthy of listening to ... Well, the individual would have nothing to lose. We all use these platforms to share what we see, what we know.
Are we still going to be looking at inter-departmental, inter-ministerial differences? Not get over that and really make it a vibrant support system. If khadi can tie up with a Raymond and a Titan, is it difficult for ministries to work together?
How much CSR does all PSUs put together spend? Can't a central support system channelize part of that to create a marketing, retail network for all khadi, trifed, state and central handloom co-ops? Why are we so stuck up with our bureaucratic mindset?
