Meghalaya’s ‘ryndia’ gains spotlight in India’s textile reforms

Shillong: The Union ministry of textiles has identified the Geographical Indication (GI) tag awarded to Meghalaya’s traditional fabric ‘ryndia’ as one of the most notable achievements and success stories of India’s textiles sector in 2025.Declared as the ‘Year of Textile Reforms’, the period witnessed significant expansion in the country’s silk and sericulture sectors, an official statement said.“The GI recognition of Meghalaya’s eri silk, ryndia, has emerged as a landmark development, leading to higher incomes for cocoon farmers, greater rural employment opportunities, increased involvement of women, innovation through GI-based branding, and the promotion of sustainable and eco-friendly silk production,” the statement said.“This recognition underscores the Government of India’s commitment to safeguarding traditional textiles, empowering rural communities, and reinforcing India’s standing in the global textiles and silk industry,” it added.The statement said India retained its position as the world’s second-largest producer of silk, with improvements across key performance indicators. “Raw silk production rose to 41,121 metric tonnes in 2024–25, a 55 per cent increase from 26,480 metric tonnes in 2013–14,” it said.“Silk productivity improved by 16.75 per cent, increasing from 96 kg per hectare to 112 kg per hectare during the same period. Mulberry cocoon prices also registered substantial growth, climbing by 46 per cent from Rs. 384 per kg in 2013–14 to Rs. 560 per kg in 2024–25,” the statement said.“Employment in the sericulture sector expanded significantly, growing by 23.95 per cent from 78 lakh people in 2013–14 to 98 lakh people in 2024–25. The sector continued to play a vital role in sustaining rural livelihoods and enhancing women’s participation in economic activities,” it said.