Handloom sector cries out for attention

30 Dec '08

2 min read

Narsingdi town was once called the Manchester of the East due to its burgeoning textile industry, more in particular the handloom industry. But decades of government apathy has now led to most of the handlooms shutting down permanently.

The handloom industry has the capacity to create a lot more jobs, directly and indirectly that too at a very low cost compared to the mechanized sector. But the mechanization of the textile industry, has led to handloom cloth being woven on these mechanized powerlooms, leading to mass unemployment in the handloom industry.

In the country, over 10 million people are connected with the handloom industry and the sector manufacturers nearly 50 percent of the country's fabric requirement. The fabrics produced by the handlooms are more so meant for the common man like saris, lungis bed sheets, etc.

The sector is looking towards the government to help it come out of the decay that has set in to the industry in the last few years. Since the sector has the capability to generate a very high level of employment for men and women alike, the government should step in with measures to uplift the industry.

Among the measures suggested by experts is providing loans at concessional rates and also ensuring that the weavers are able to source their raw material requirements. The last but not the least is a very good marketing strategy for the industry as a whole so that the weavers are able to get remunerative rates for their products.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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