history of handloom weaving in india

8/12/2019 History of Handloom Weaving in India

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HISTORY OF HANDLOOM WEAVING IN INDIA

Handloom weaving in India is still largely a house hold enterprise as well as being

predominantly a rural activity (with the exception of Maharashtra). It has conventionally been one of the most promising sectors of huge employment. In spite of agriculture industry

is also a largest provider of work force. The abundance in the raw material, the continuous

supply of cheap work force is the contributing factors behind the success of the weaving

industry in India. However, the liberalization of the international trade coupled with change

in the reforms of domestic economy, have made affected the weaving industry employs a

large section of the Indian population, it is considered as a failing industry. Though this

ancient industry of India is experiencing a bad phase, a large market for weaving products

still exist both in the international and domestic market. The manufacturing of the weaving

products makes a remarkable contribution to the national GDP and even in the exports

revenue estimates over the years have found out that the weaving industry are supporting

some 32 other sectors that include marketing, financial transportation, Hotels and even

maintenance services. The weaving industry in India has self depending mechanism that

includes training the young weaver, abundance of resources and capacities, thereby helping

the industry not to be dependent and is aimed at the cutting back on the environmental

impact. At present the share of the handloom industry stands at 18.75% of the total cloth

production. The major contribution of handloom sector is however in terms of providing

employment to 124 lakhs people and thus stands next to agriculture out of this 60% are

women, 12% SC and 20% ST (ministry if textiles : 2001). There are 38.91 lakhs handlooms

in India. Though its share in total textile export is 10% (EXIM: 2001), its labour intensive

character, decentralized nature and optimum utilization of Scarce capital resources give it a

unique position in the Indian economy. It weavers a range of fibers like cotton, silk, tussar,

Jute, wool, and synthetic blands. The share of textile exports in the total exports of India has

shown or increasing trend and now stands at 35.5%. Thus textile have grown over the


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decades. As the simple largest foreign exchange earner. This is of great significance taking

into account the fact that textile industry has low import intensity at 2-3%.


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HANDLOOM CO-OPERATIVES IN KERALA

The Handloom industry is a traditional industry in Kerala. It is estimated that there

are 75000 handlooms sectors. The Handloom weavers are mainly concentrated in

Trivandrum, Kannur, Kollam, Eranakulam and Palakkad Districts. There are 493

handloom Societies in Kerala with a membership of 60,000. Most of the weavers

Societies in Kerala are in of cottage type. There are about 40 factory type weavers

societies in the states. The primary weaver societies are mainly engaged in the production

of handloom cloth. Usually, the societies supply raw materials to 9 the members with the

direction for clothes to be produced. The members return the woven clothes to the

societies which in tune arrange for the marketing through its own sales departments or

through apex weaver society. The members are paid wages for their work and profit of

any, is distribute among them.

Primary handloom societies are affiliated to the Kerala State handloom weavers

Co-operative Society Ltd; which is the apex society of weavers Co-operatives and which

finance primary societies in the State. It was registered in 1964 with its head quarters at

Trivandrum. Membership of the apex society is open to all primary weavers societies and

the state government. This apex society has made commendable work in procurement

and sale of the product of member societies.


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Chart 2.1

STRUCTURE OF INDIAN TEXTILE INDUSTRY

Indian Textile mill Industry

Organized Sector Unorganized Sector

Hosiery Sector (95% share intotal cloth)

Mill Sector (55 share in totalcloth production)

Handloom Sector

Power loom Sector


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PROBLEMS OF HANDLOOM CO-OPERATIVES

1. Various Institutions like NABARD, District Co-operative Bank, State Co-operative

Bank, etc. are not providing enough financial assistance to handloom Co-operatives.

2. Primary handloom Societies are finding it difficult to market the products of the

members.

3. Most of the handloom Societies are using out dated implements and Techniques of

Production.

4. Yarn is the important raw material required by the handloom industry. Since most of

the spinning mills are in private sector, handloom societies do not yet enough

quantities of material regularly.

5. Most of the handloom societies are manage by those persons who have not much

knowledge of management because these persons are appointed on the basis of their

political background.


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HISTORY OF HANDLOOM WEAVING IN KANNUR

Till the early 19 th century, Kannur was under the rules of the chera kings; then

came the Kolathiri Rajas. In order to help them against their arch rivals, the zamorins, the

rajas established alliances with the Portuguese, in the 6 th century with their

encouragement, the European power established a strong hold in Malabar and made

decisive victories against the zamorins army.

Later that Dutch and the British established their control over this land. Except for

Tippu Sultans opposition and Pazhassi Rajas revolt, there were no major protestsagainst the British rule, till the 9 th century.

With the strengthening of the national movement, Kannur become a centre of political

activity. In 1928, Payyannur in Kannur, hosted the all Kerala Political conference that

was presided over by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. The place was also at the fore front of the

salt Sathyagraha and other civil Disobedience movements.


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history of handloom weaving in india

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