A dying trade: Can the handloom sector stand up to the march of the machines?

A glimpse at the performance of handloom exports over the years from India shows a worrying trend: exports fell from Rs 2,353.33 crore in FY16 to Rs 2,245.33 crore in FY20, according to data from Handloom Export Promotion Council (HEPC). The importance of the handloom sector can be obscure for the casual observer. It employs 35.23 lakh weavers and allied workers, making it one of the largest economic activities after agriculture, according to