Department of Textiles, Meghalaya was awarded with a Special Award at the Textiles Sustainability Awards 2024-25, during Bharat Tex 2025 in New Delhi.

Presented on February 17, 2025 by the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI), the award recognized the department's outstanding work in reviving the state's indigenous textile heritage and promoting sustainable practices.

CITI commended the department for its dedication to preserving traditional weaving techniques and ensuring sustainability in textile production. The department also received the CITI Textiles Heritage Reviver Award, named in honor of Alekh, for its contributions to reviving indigenous textile heritage, promoting sustainable textile production, fostering innovation in weaving techniques, and empowering local weaving communities.

Frederick Roy Kharkongor, Principal Secretary, Department of Textiles, Meghalaya accepted the award from Union Minister of State for Textiles, Pabitra Margherita.

Since 2019, Department of Textiles, Meghalaya has been actively promoting indigenous textile heritage. The department has launched several new initiatives like the recognition of Umden-Diwon as Meghalaya's first ERI Silk village in 2021, establishment of the Design Innovation Research Centre (DIRC) to support the Ryndia textile value chain in 2022, and ongoing efforts to secure a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Ryndia. The department has also supported handloom clusters, conducted capacity-building workshops, and participated in national and international exhibitions.

Meghalaya's commitment to integrating traditional techniques with modern sustainability practices has earned it recognition as a key player in India's sustainable textile sector. The Special Award at Bharat Tex 2025 highlights the state's success in preserving its cultural heritage while creating economic opportunities for its weavers.