Weavers turn producers in Chanderi handloom cluster

05 Aug '10

3 min read

The Chanderi Handloom Cluster in Madhya Pradesh was identified under the Integrated Handloom Development Scheme of the Office of the Development Commissioner for Handlooms in2006-07.

It is now reaping fruits of the interventions made under the scheme for the 3000 Handloom Weavers of this cluster. For the first time the handloom weavers are organized into a Producers' Company which is a legal entity representing 50 Self-Help Groups (SHGs).

The Producers' Company was constituted in 2008-09 (vide a new enactment in the constitution in the year 2004) which facilitated equal sharing of dividends to all members.

Each weaver/member associated with it purchased 10 shares of Rs.10 each in 2008-09 and the initial 10 subscribers increased to 249 members by end of 2009-10.

The weavers' SHGs (of which more than 35 were women SHGs) were provided market exposure through exhibitions and sales so as to make them understand the techniques of marketing the products.

The interventions of Office through the Development Commissioner for Handlooms provided design support through the NIFT qualified designer Shri Sanjay Garg, infrastructural support and marketing linkage i.e. both forward and backward linkage.

This enabled the existing skills of weavers to be showcased at appropriate forum in State and National level exhibitions. The marketing efforts resulted in securing orders with large renowned retailers like Life Style, CCIC, Tahiliani Designs, Raw Mango, Utsav, Kamla, Sutra Marketing Pvt. Ltd. Delhi, Shades of India, Ahilya Creations, Mumbai, Realm Exports, Pantaloon etc.

Participation in 85 exhibitions across the country and 18 Buyer Seller Meets have resulted into orders worth Rs.2.62 crore for the cluster.

Smt. Rita Menon, IAS, Secretary (Textiles) visited Chanderi Handloom Cluster along with Shri R.N. Choubey, D.C. (Handlooms) on 30.7.2010 to distribute dividends accrued to the shareholders during 2008-09 and 2009-10.

This was apart from 20% wage increase to the weavers. In addition to this, the Producers' Company provided 40% Dividend i.e. Rs.400 on Rs.1000 as labour incentive to its shareholders.

In the year 2009-10 the Company continued with the 20% wage increase to the weavers and further enhanced the weavers' dividend upto 60% i.e. Rs.600 on Rs.1000.

During the visit Secretary (Textiles) and D.C. (Handlooms) distributed the dividend cheques to the stakeholders of Chanderi Cluster.

They also inaugurated the Common Facility Centre and Dye House which provides in-house technical support for the weavers on nominal charges.

Four warp-sheds have also been provided to the weavers with full Ministry of Textiles financial assistance, to provide suitable area for making warp drums since street warping is difficult during the scorching heat or rainy seasons and hampers this work.

Secretary (Textiles) congratulated D.C. (Handlooms); EDI, the Implementing Agency and the Cluster Development Executive that their initiatives have borne fruits.

The holistic development of the cluster is the ultimate goal of all the interventions made through various schemes of Office of the Development Commissioner for Handlooms and the Chanderi Cluster is one amongst the first to show positive results.

D.C. (Handlooms)

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