Handloom sector revival plan proposed
| Date :07-Aug-2019 |
Staff Reporter:
Design Bank to be started at Nagpur
One-year course to be launched in ITIs in eight districts to train younger generation of handloom weavers’ families in designing, dyeing etc
Considering the problems being faced by families dependent on handloom due to crisis engulfing the sector, Commissionerate of Textiles has proposed a handloom sector revival plan. The plan has several components including training the younger generation, setting up Design Bank at Nagpur, extending financial aid to weavers etc. As has been highlighted by ‘The Hitavada’ recently, the handloom sector is in deep crisis.
There are several reasons including powerloom sector dominating the market, handloom weavers growing old and failing to attune themselves with modern technology, and younger generation not taking up the traditional vocation. In the latest Handloom Census of which results have been compiled recently, there were total 1,85,000 handlooms in Maharashtra in the year 1971. However, over the years, the number came down. The Handloom Census 2018-19 has revealed that there are only 5,183 handlooms in Maharashtra now. These include 4,976 working and 207 closed down. Against this backdrop, the Commissionerate of Textiles led by Dr Madhavi Khode, Commissioner (Textiles), has proposed a handloom sector revival plan.
The plan involves expenditure of Rs 4,62,80,000/- per year. The components of the revival plan include financial aid to 100 handloom weavers every year for procurement of material, aid to 100 handloom weavers per year for procurement of new handloom, aid to 100 weavers per year for repairs of workshed, concession in interest on running capital to individual handloom owners, skill development scheme for training 300 weavers per year etc.
A Design Bank will be set up at MSHC, Nagpur. It will be set up in co-ordination with National Institute of Design, National Institute of Fashion Technology, Weavers’ Service Centre, and Development Commissioner (Handloom). Through the Design Bank, traditional and new designs will be made available to the weavers in Maharashtra, without charging any money. A major component is providing training to younger generation of handloom weavers.
As per the scheme, the youngsters will be imparted training in a specially designed one-year course at Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in eight districts namely Nagpur, Amravati, Bhandara, Solapur, Nashik, Dhule, Aurangabad, and Nanded. Every year 160 youngsters will undergo courses relating to weaving, designing, dyeing etc.
The courses will be designed in consultation with Weavers’ Service Centre, Indian Institute of Handloom Technology, National Institute of Fashion Technology, and such institutions. Besides, in another component, tuition fees and coaching class fees will be provided through Direct Benefit Transfer to the eligible students from handloom weavers’ families for education from Class I to Class XII. Also, the revival plan proposes to focus on marketing of products made on handlooms. For the purpose, Nagpur-based Maharashtra State Handloom Corporation (MSHC) and Mumbai-based MahaTex will organise exhibitions of handloom products. Besides, it is proposed to make it mandatory for MSHC and MahaTex to market the products made by handloom weavers.