Kochi: The Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC), the investment promotion arm of the state government, will adopt Chend-amangalam weavers’ village devastated by the floods.
KSIDC chairman Christy Fernandez told DC that the corporation would work with the government, banks and other agencies to design schemes for the revival of the 300-odd looms and ensure that the signature product of Kerala is not lost to the floods.
“Our immediate priority is to salvage whatever products that got dampened in the floods,” Mr Fernandez said. “I have asked weavers’ societies to open the units and get them dried up as soon as possible. The materials cannot be sold but some of them, like liungis, can be given to the flood-affected people once we get them dried up.” There is a stock of high value products such as sarees which cannot be redeemed. KSIDC has already initiated talks with the State Level Bankers Committee, the platform of the public and private sector banks in the state, to see if the banks can use their corporate social responsibility funds to pay the weavers and buy the entire stock.
Several looms have been damaged in the floods and hence require repairs. The parts are not immediately available and they have to be brought from outside the state, which is a time-taking process. “We have asked the District Industries Centre general manager, who has also visited the place, to submit a report to the state government and explore the ways to make government funding available to the weavers for getting the looms repaired,” the KSIDC chairman said. The weavers need to be compensated for the raw materials such as yarn and dyes damaged in the floods, he said.
The GI-tagged Chendamangalm handloom has the potential to be a bigger brand, he said. “The KSIDC will work out a comprehensive plan on the revival of the industry,” he said. “The societies here are facing several other challenges apart for the devastation caused by the floods. The products do not get the price they can command in the national and international markets as there are little marketing efforts. Most of the weavers are getting old and the industry cannot attract the younger ones as it cannot afford to pay them remunerative wages. This should not be the case.” KSIDC will coordinate the rehabilitation, modernisation, product development and niche market exploration of Chendamangalam handloom, Mr Fernandez said.
