Karnataka plans to revive KHDC and Caurvery Handlooms

The Karnataka government plans to revive the State-owned Karnataka Handloom Development Corporation (KHDC) and Caurvery Handlooms and transform the handloom industry into an organized profession. As KHDC and Caurvery Handlooms will be the focal point of market linkages.

Karnataka Commissioner for Textile Development R Raju said that this initiative will benefit 80,000 handloom weavers and 600 handloom cooperative societies. Currently, there are 227 cotton, 88 silk and more than 50 woollen co-operative societies operating in the State which make numerous products.

The government at present has ensured the market linkage for handloom products such as uniform cloths, bedsheets and blankets to school children in the State, which ensures business to the tune of ₹100 crore annually.

In the next two years products of KHDC and Caurvery Handlooms will be aggressively marketed. There are plans to market Ilkal sarees, Malakamuru silk sarees and Udupi cotton sarees which have acquired GI (Geographical Indication) accreditation for their uniqueness and endemic to the specific regions. The other sarees on the radar are ‘Guledaguddakana’ and large varieties of Priyadarshini silk.

R Raju said that the government would offer 20 percent rebates to weavers on all the handloom products sold during 180 rebate days annually. In addition, ₹15 per KG of yarn is also provided to weavers as yarn subsidy.

The government has provided the weaver families with living-cum-work shed facilities and till now over 8,000 such sheds have been built. There are plans to build 3,000 more sheds in the next two years.