Handloom Industry in India : What, Why & How ?

What is Handloom Industry ?

The Handloom Textile constitute a timeless facet of the rich cultural heritage of India. As an economic activity, the handloom sector occupies a place next only to agriculture in providing livelihood to the people The element of art and craft present in Indian handlooms makes it a potential sector for the upper segments of the market, both domestic as well as global.

Handloom industry is the labour intensive and one of the largest employers.

India's handloom textiles sector is one of the oldest industries in Indian economy dating back several centuries. 

Before British Era, India's handloom textiles sector was

+ rich  

+ well established &

+ Most demanded in world market

Objective : To assist and promote the interest of the poor weavers and artisan.

Aim : To provide training, design inputs, raw material, reviving the languishing crafts and providing them marketing facilities through its chain of emporia located within and outside the India.

Two Broad Category of Handloom Industry :

1. Unorganized Sector : Operated on a small scale and through traditional tools and methods.

2. Organized Sector : Consisting of Spinning, apparel and garments segment which apply modern machinery and techniques such as economies of scale.

Why Handloom Industry Face Problems ?

• Obsolete technologies

• Unorganized Production system

• Low Productivity

• Inadequate working capital

• Conventional product range

• Weak marketing link

• Overall stagnation of production and sales

• The competition from the mill sector

• British destroy the Indian Handloom Industry by Five Strategies -

+ Price Fixing

+ Violence

+ Taxes

+ Innovation and

+ Strategic Theft

How Government Programmes Formulated for the Promotion and Development of the Handloom Industry ?

• Financial assistance

• Modernization and Upgradation of Technology

• Employment Generation

• Marketing Support

• Publicity

• Input Support

• Infrastructural Support

• Welfare Measures

• Composite Growth Oriented Package

• Development of Exportable Products and their Marketing, and

• Research and Development

Ongoing Schemes and Programmes :

* Deen Dayal Hathkargha Protsahan Yojana (DDHPY) : To provide assistance to the handloom weavers in an integrated and comprehensive manner.

* National Centre For Textile Design (NCTD) : It has been set up to promote the traditional and contemporary designs so as to enable weavers to be responsive to the rapidly changing market demand, thereby providing adequate growth opportunity to the Handloom Sector.

* Input Support : The Central Government has been making efforts to insure regular supply of yarn to the handloom sector.

* Training to Handloom Personnel : To impart Training in modern management and production techniques, dyeing practices, Marketing of handloom products etc.

* Weavers Service Centre (WSC) : The Weavers' Service Centres primarily render extension services, which involve transfer of design inputs, skills and technology evolved in the Weavers' Service Centres to the weavers at their cottages.

* Indian Institutes of Handloom Technology (IIHT) : It mainly function to provide qualified and trained manpower to the Handloom Sector and to undertake experimental and research programmes on all aspects of the handloom industry.

* Development of Exportable Products and Their Marketing Scheme : Export of handloom has, therefore, been identified as a "Thrust Area" for the overall development of the sector. The Government is exploring the possibility of making optimal use of the resources to enhance production capabilities of exportable handloom products.

* Some important Village Complex from various parts of the Country :

• Kulu Hut - Himachal Pradesh

• Meher Hut - Sourashtra, Gujarat

• Banni Hut - Gujarat

• Madhubani Courtyard - Bihar

• Bhilwara Courtyard - Rajasthan

• West Bengal Courtyard 

• Nicobar Hut - Nicobar Islands

• Typical Courtyard of a Bit - Jammu and Kashmir

• Adi Hut (Arunachal Pradesh)

• Rabhas of Assam

• Naga Hut - Nagaland

• Gadbas - Orissa

• Toda Hut - Tamil Nadu

• Gonds But - Madhya Pradesh

* The National Policy on Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, 2015 envisages inclusion irrespective of any divide through equal access to skill development by marginalized groups like SCs, STs, OBCs, minorities, women, school dropouts, difficult geographical locations to enhance their employability, entrepreneurship and and access to decent employment opportunities.

Government should provide toolkits, modern equipments and the facility to access training materials. Besides government should focus on the effective utilisation of the existing talents, utilisation of local raw materials, upgradation of the available skills and products designs, credit facilities, and provision of some subsidies on latest modern machines to the poor traditional households.

Summary :

Handloom Textile Industry -

Organized Sector & Unorganized Sector

Labour Intensive Industry

Art & Crafts Industry

e.g. Carpets, shawls, wooden works, painting and leather works etc...

References

Yojana

Ministry of Textiles