Ministry of Textile to set up CFCs to promote handloom weavers

Government to promote handloom and indigenous textile industry and to stay in the competitive global market has taken a well planned marketing strategy, which is important apart from other essential prerequisite. There is hope among the weaver community on the steps taken by the government but there is still lot more to be done in order to improve both our social status and product demand.

Another 20-yr-old weaver admitted that youngsters are reluctant to join the traditional profession due to less profit margin and other difficulties faced by them but also asserted that things have changed and young weavers are optimistic and hopeful of government efforts.

The whole world is looking towards the Indian textile industry comprising of spinning, weaving, apparel, garment and fashion segments.

SK Panda, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles said that the handloom industry is required to be consolidated for facing this reality on a pragmatic basis keeping in view the fact that handloom, power-loom and mill made fabrics will continue to coexist in the market.

It is to be noted that handloom faced stiff competition against powerloom, as clothes woven on them remained cheaper.

The Ministry of Textiles, in consultation with the State Government, has initiated action for setting up Common Facility Centres (CFC) for supporting group of handloom weavers in each block. The CFCs are being set up at the block/cluster level where handloom weavers are concentrated under the ongoing schemes in a phased manner.

The CFCs would be managed by the Primary Weavers’ Cooperative Societies having elected bodies. In other cases, it would be run by the Self Help Group of the weavers and other organisation’s dealing with their welfare in the interim period. One person having diploma in handloom from the Indian Institute of Handloom Technology will run the Centre, said Mr Panda.

Each CFC will be provided with basic infrastructure comprising of a godown for storage of raw materials and finished products, and an office with internet connectivity for providing Information Technology-based interventions including the benefits of financial inclusion under the “Prime Minister’s Jan dhan Yojana.”

It is expected that provision of these facilities and infrastructure will enable the handloom weavers to produce high value cloth as per market demand, increase in their wage substantially and restore the glorious place of handloom in the world textile industry.

Handloom weaving has the potential to provide livelihood opportunity to women in particular, who may take up weaving in the house along with other household chores. Such women can avail government assistance for training, getting loom and accessories and take up production of fabrics on a commercial scale. This would empower the rural women in the true sense and enable them in getting a decent earning from handloom.

The Ministry of Textiles also emphasised upon securing the future and tapping the potential of larger women work force in the handloom industry.

The Ministry of Textile, at the India International Trade Fair (IITF) that began in the capital of India on Monday organized a show “Threads of Banaras” to promote handloom and indigenous textile industry. In the event, several weavers from Varanasi and adjoining areas participated. Models wearing indigenious textile products also walked the ramp on the occasion.