Mumbai, May 20, 2014: The negative growth in the handloom sector is a cause of serious concern, according to Zohra Chatterji, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles.
“In the overall textile scenario, which has been recording growth of 5 per cent despite the general slowdown in other sectors of the economy, handloom has been showing negative growth. So, this is a cause of serious concern,” said Chatterji at a Buyers-Sellers Meet.
The meet was organised by the National Handloom Development Corporation under the aegis of Development Commissioner for Handlooms and supported by National Textile Corporation for establishing market linkages and capacity building. Chatterji said the challenge was how to arrest the decline and preserve the tradition of the exquisite weaving which only handlooms can produce.
Facing competition
The sector provides direct and indirect employment to more than 43 lakh weavers and allied workers. As of now, the share of handloom products in total cloth production is only 11 per cent as compared to powerloom, which is about 60 per cent.
According to the Textiles Ministry, competition from the powerloom and mill sector, availability of cheaper imported fabrics, changing consumer preferences and alternative employment opportunities have threatened the vibrancy of handloom sector.
“So, we thought that there has to be a way that the incremental margins, available on handlooms (what the market commands and gives for it), has to percolate down to the weaver in terms of increase in wages which they get because other options such as even MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) are available now,” she said.
The meet, which was first organised in Delhi last month, brings together weavers, designers and retail brands on one platform to exchange ideas and transact business.
