Handloom industry revival, a distant dream

11 May '10

2 min read

First their export orders dried up due to recession and then came the sky-rocketing prices of thread, which further crushed their plans of reviving the industry. Now, for the country's weavers, recovery of their industry seems like a distant dream.

Such is the situation of weavers in West Bengal, who have although received the due recognition for their work for four decades, but have not managed to gain any kind of monetary security for the same.

The economic downturn adversely affected the export orders and the key sufferers were weavers. Normally, Japan, European countries like Franc and Italy and the United States place orders for their fabric and scarves requirements. But in the past one year, export orders have registered a fall.

Adding to weaver's woes are the increasing prices of yarn that has almost touched Rs 100 per kilogram, which has further blocked the weaver's chances of reducing fabric prices and restricts their capacity to lure new business.

More so, many of the government's initiative in the sector have profited the power-loom industry over the handloom sector, indicating government's apathy towards the handloom weavers.

For example, the textile policy that was declared by the state government in 2008 favoured the power-loom industry, which manufactures practically the same volume of fabrics in half the time as compared to hand-woven fabrics. Therefore the policy turned out to be more of a challenge than help for the handloom weavers.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk - India

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