People's Democracy

'Save Handloom Sector'

CPI(M) Delegation Meets PM

THE prime minister has assured to constitute a central team to go into the problems being faced by handloom weavers in the country and to suggest remedies. The team will submit its report in a month’s time.

Dr Manmohan Singh gave this assurance when a delegation led by CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Koratala Satyanarayana met him in New Delhi on December 17. The delegation comprised of representatives of handloom weavers, workers and manufacturers, mainly from the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and UP. It also included CPI(M) leader in Rajya Sabha Nilotpal Basu, CPI(M) MPs P Madhu, Dr M Babu Rao and Congress MP V Hanumantha Rao.

The delegation explained to the prime minister the severe crisis facing handloom industry and requested his immediate intervention. As handloom sector is the largest provider of jobs and employment to the people, second only to agriculture in the country, its crisis is affecting lakhs of families. The delegation pointed out that the main reason for this crisis is the non-implementation of the Handloom Reservation Act by various governments.

In the memorandum submitted to the prime minister on this occasion, the plight of handloom weavers in various states was detailed. It was pointed out that in Andhra Pradesh in the last 300 days more than hundred handloom weavers died, either by committing suicide or because of hunger. In this, 40 deaths occurred in just one district – Karimngar. In Chirala, in the last 45 days, 24 weavers committed suicide. This shows how alarming the situation is in the state.

Similarly the Varanasi silk industry is in turmoil today.  For centuries it has produced exquisite handloom silk. Of India’s 10 million weavers, this city – also known as Benaras – in UP boasts nearly 13 per cent. Among them also a majority comprise of Dalit, OBC and Muslim communities. With the intervention of  powerloom sector and government inaction, these weavers are forced to even sell their blood for existence.

The 1985 Act was passed by the parliament, providing exclusive reservation of 11 items to the handloom sector. Production of these items was banned for powerloom sector. However, in practice this Act is nowhere in implementation. Many powerloom units are blatantly violating this Act and producing the reserved items, eating away the market share of the handloom goods. This violation has resulted in stocks of handloom goods piling up with the producers. Consequently lakhs of weavers are facing unemployment, misery, debt-trap and starvation. In many states, suicides of handloom weavers have become rampant.