By:- N.O. Solanki

Govt. of India, Development Commissioner for Handloom, New Delhi has sanctioned 419 Handloom clusters. Among that 9 handloom clusters in Gujarat State has been sanctioned during the 2008-09 to the Weavers Service Centre, Ahmedabad. Rest was allotted to Gujarat State Handloom & Handicraft Corporation, Gandhinagar; namely Junagarh,Amreli, Porbandar, Surendranagar, Limbdi, Palanpur, Vadgam (Banaskantha), and Bhuj.

Ahmedabad cluster (Amraivadi, Geetamandir) has been sanctionedtoWeavers Service Centre, Ahmedabad to cover up 490 weavers under various components. Under this project, Weavers Service Centre,Ahmedabadhas undertaken the work toupliftthe weavers of the Amraiwadi and Gitamandir and given benefit to the 218 weaversunder variouscomponents.

Details of the project implemented and important factors are as under:

  • An amount of 54 Lakhs was sanctioned 13.25 lakhs was released as First installment and IInd installment is released worth 18.34 lakh for development of Handloom cluster.
  • A consortium under the Ahmedabad Handloom cluster sangh has been formed.
  • The corpus fund for yam depot of ` 1 Lakh was given to NHDC.
  • Under skill up gradation 60 weavers were trained in one weaving & two in Design discipline.
  • Looms & accessories were distributed to the weaver as per the norms.
  • Under Design Development & product diversification component one designer was engaged since August, 2008, Designer has submitted 28 Nos. of paper designs, out of this 22 Nosof samples developed based on new method on Handloom weaving.
  • Under the publicity and marketing component awareness and exposure visit to Chanderi (M.P.) and Bhujodi Dist. Kutch-Bhuj (Gujarat) 40 weavers were deputed to see the technical knowhow of the Handloom products.
  • Brochure Catalogue prepared and distributed to the concerned agencies.
  • Buyer Seller meet arranged and good response were received from the buyers for furnishing products under taken by the cluster's weavers.
  • Under basic input component - Margin Money 4.32 lakhs were handed over to Co-Op. societies as below for the benefit of 80 beneficiaries.

      1. M/s Mahavir Weavers Co-op. Society Ltd. - 27 Beneficiaries.
      2. M/s Utkarsh Weavers Co-op. Society Ltd. - 27 Beneficiaries.
      3. M/s Bhagavati Weavers Co-op. Society Ltd. - 26 Beneficiaries.

  • Accessories for 45 weavers beneficiaries were distributed.
  • Three Weaving and two Dyeing training were conducted under cluster programme of Handloom & Handicraft Corporation Gandhinagar by Weavers Service Centre, Ahmedabad.

By:- N.O. Solanki


Weavers of Amraiwadi and Gitamandir make different products and they have been upgraded in loom technology with 120 hooks Jacquard to have different designs for furnishings. They are earning Rs. l00-150 per day whereas; their earlier earning was about 75/-100/- per day. Earning source rose in the cluster due to efforts made by the Weavers Service Centre, Ahmedabad.


The author is Dy. Director (Weaving); Officer-in-Charge; Weavers Service Centre, Govt. of India, Ministry of Textiles