There might still be a chance to rescue the declining handloom weaving culture of Balaramapuram. The government is toying with the idea of posting designers in places where the number of weavers is high to help them with manufacture of value-added products.
The designers will guide the weavers in making new designs and value-added products. A product branding exercise is also in the works. The National Institute of Fashion Technology has been asked to prepare a project by studying the current scenario and schemes and suggest how to walk a new path by training weavers in making premium products and marketing them. The government is also focussing on weavers who have no looms of their own. “The government will finance purchase of new looms by the weavers,” K. Sudheer, Director of Handloom and Textiles, told The Hindu.
Steps are also being taken to ensure pay revision for weavers and minimum wages. “Weavers will get more remuneration only if some value-addition is done. We are optimistic that by fixing a minimum remuneration and bringing some changes in finish or aesthetics, they will be able to earn double or more than what they currently get,” he said.
Mr. Sudheer admitted that such initiatives were imperative to ensure sustainability of the handloom sector. “The number of weavers is dwindling. Most of them are aged. We need to frame better schemes to attract the younger generation to the sector. The handloom school uniform initiative of the government has proved successful in bringing many weavers back,” he said.
About earlier schemes to bring in value-addition fizzling out, he said someone had to take responsibility for schemes and nurture them.
“We are doing research and development in looms, designs, dyeing, and value-addition. We are hopeful that once weavers have daily work, assured income, and if efficient product marketing happens, they will come back.”