On the occasion of the National Handloom Day today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called upon countrymen to affirm to give an impetus to the handloom sector. <br/><br/>In a series of tweets, Mr Modi said, the handloom sector is diverse, eco friendly and is a source of employment for countless weavers, who will be very encouraged by the support. The Prime Minister said the handloom sector was also an important means of women empowerment as many of them are associated with the handloom sector.<br/><br/>Meanwhile, the second National Handloom Day celebrations and presentation of various Handloom and Sant Kabir Awards are being held in different states today.? <br/><br/>Union Textiles Minister Smriti Zubin Irani will be the Chief Guest in the main function which will be held today at Varanasi.? The National Handloom Day, which was first celebrated in 2015, is being celebrated in all states at 200 different handloom clusters, an official said.<br/> <br/>To mark the Swadeshi Movement which began on 7th of August in 1905 and with the objective to generate awareness about the importance of handloom industry and its contribution to the socioeconomic development, the Government on 29th July 2015 declared this day as the National Handloom Day.?