Modi’s handloom initiative fails to impress weavers' community in Karnataka
Hubballi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's move to launch ‘National Handloom Day’ in Chennai on Friday failed to induce a smile on the faces of members of weavers' community in Karnataka.
On the other hand, leaders of the community demanded a policy to help reserve production of 11 textile articles including the famous Ilkal sarees for handloom sector as per Handlooms (Reservation of Articles for Production) Act, 1985.
They contended that government has failed to revive the handloom industry though these weavers are facing tough times. “I welcome government's intention to celebrate ‘National Handloom Day’ to mark the Swadeshi movement of 1905.
But, the event has no meaning because lakhs of powerlooms are producing Ilkal sarees, woolen blankets, silk sarees which are reserved for the handloom industry. More than 25,000 handloom units are producing spurious clothing materials in Doddaballapur.
The government has remained a mute spectator though there is widespread adulteration of handloom products through the use of power loom. This has jeopardized the livelihood of handloom weavers", said famous playwright and theater director Prasanna who has been fighting for the cause of handloom sector for the past 25 years. He has established Charaka, a women’s industrial co-operative society to further the cause of weavers.
Bagalkot and Gadag are the nerve centres of weaving activities in north Karnataka. For instance, Ilkal sarees have unique design and availability of local raw materials has helped enhance their popularity. A large number of skilled women are engaged in weaving the sarees with the combination of three types of different yarns.
Power loom can produce around 3-4 sarees every day, while handloom weavers can hardly craft one saree everyday. Hand-woven sarees attract price of more than Rs 10,000 each owing to its durability and unique design. But, clothes produced with the help of power looms are flooding the market, causing much anxiety among handloom weavers.
“It is difficult for poor weavers to shift to power looms which cost more than Rs 60,000,” said Ashok Shavi, general secretary, Ilkal Handloom and Powerloom Weavers Agitation Committee.
