Thirty stalls allotted to the Manipur Khadi and Village Industries Board (KVIB) for showcasing the State’s handloom and handicraft products at a Government-organised exhibition at Dilli Haat, New Delhi, reportedly saw no display of products made by Manipuri artisans, raising serious questions over the utilisation of the stalls and accountability within the Board.
The exhibition, organised by the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Northern Regional Office, under the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, was held from April 16 to April 30, 2026, to showcase India’s cultural diversity through handloom and handicraft products.
According to reports, the KVIB Manipur was allotted 30 stalls specifically for showcasing the rich handloom and handicraft products of artisans from Manipur. However, no products crafted by Manipuri artisans were reportedly found on display during the exhibition.
Imphal Times contacted several renowned handloom and handicraft artisans in Manipur and found that they had no information about the exhibition. The artisans said they were neither informed about the opportunity nor invited to apply for participation.
The development raises a fundamental question: What happened to the 30 stalls allotted specifically for showcasing Manipuri artisan products?
Dilli Haat, New Delhi, is a prominent platform for promoting India’s indigenous arts, crafts and handloom traditions. The failure to ensure the participation of genuine Manipuri artisans, if confirmed, raises serious concerns about the manner in which the stalls allotted to Manipur were utilised.
The issue assumes greater significance amid the ongoing controversy over the legal status of the existing KVIB Board. The Board was constituted on October 28, 2022, and its three-year term, as prescribed under the Manipur Khadi and Village Industries Board Rules, 1969, reportedly expired on October 28, 2025. Despite this, members of the Board are reportedly continuing to occupy their positions and discharge functions.
A highly placed source told Imphal Times that a show-cause notice has reportedly been issued to the Vice-Chairman of KVIB Manipur over the alleged failure to display products of Manipuri artisans at the exhibition.
If the Board’s tenure had indeed expired, the question of who authorised or supervised the utilisation of the 30 stalls, and under what legal authority, assumes particular importance.
The reported non-participation of genuine artisans also raises questions over whether an opportunity intended for the promotion and welfare of Manipur’s artisan community was diverted or otherwise misused.
The authorities concerned must clarify who received the 30 stalls, who selected or nominated the exhibitors, what products were displayed, whether any Manipuri artisans participated, and how public resources allotted for the promotion of Manipur’s indigenous crafts were utilised.
