Handloom weaving (“ >More power to skilled hands ”, May 5) is an integral part of India as it is the window to our rich heritage, culture, traditions and, of course, diversity. From the economic point of view, it is a labour-intensive industry, comprising a fifth of our total rural industrial production by employing more than 45 lakh workers in 27 lakh handloom units. In trying to revive the sector, the government needs to find solutions to the hurdles the sector faces which are challenges in credit facility availability, stiff competition from powerlooms and a lack of global exposure.
Mayank Maheshwari,
Neemuch, Madhya Pradesh
Ms. Tyabji’s take on the handloom industry reminded one of the TV series, Malgudi Days, adapted from R.K. Narayan’s book. I was reminded of an episode from the series, wherein the residents of Malgudi burn clothes which were manufactured in the Lancashire power looms in order to support the Swadeshi movement, with Swami throwing his cap into the fire as his way of showing respect for the handwoven Indian khadar .
On the one hand we talk of employment generation through MGNREGA and rural women’s empowerment, while on the other we are almost ready to snatch away their bread and butter. There is no doubt about the extent of employment generated by this industry and how handlooms have a low carbon footprint.
In its actions in this area, is the BJP government heading for another political problem after the Land Acquisition Bill fiasco?
Rishabh Bansal,
Pathankot, Punjab
Gandhiji spun his own khadi using the charkha , popularised it and made fellow citizens to spin and weave their own cloth during the Swadeshi movement and later. He was aware of the ill-effects of the power loom and believed that the handloom sector could improve the economic conditions of the impoverished, rural multitude. So, the handloom is a part of India’s history and culture and its identity. While the government has taken a big leap forward in realising Gandhiji’s dream of Swachh Bharat, similarly, it has to take a small step in improving the handloom sector conceived and fostered by Gandhiji.
Raghavendra C.G.,
Hassan, Karnataka
