One of the last institutional lifelines left for handloom weavers — the Karnataka Handloom Development Corporation (KHDC) — could come to a standstill with funds from the State government reduced by two-thirds this year. It could bring weaving activity among the members to a halt in a couple of months, and worse, the supply of school uniform fabric for the next academic year could be in jeopardy.
While the corporation, which provides yarn to weavers and pays them conversion charges for the finished products, received around ₹30 crore last year, the government has reduced the fund to ₹10 crore this year. The salaries of the 200 or so employees of the corporation are also to be met using this fund, which will leave it just a couple of crores of rupees to meet the weavers’ needs, sources said.
Most of the 9,000 or so cotton handloom weaver-members of the corporation, which comes under the Department of Handloom and Textiles, are in 110 project areas in the north Karnataka districts, with Bagalkot having the highest number. Also included are weavers from Gadag, Vijayapura, Kalaburagi, Koppal, Ballari, and Bidar, all of whom are involved in cotton handloom weaving. In south Karnataka, the corporation has 10 project areas that are essentially all about silk weaving.
“The corporation had sought close to ₹50 crore this year since ₹17 crore had to be paid towards the retirement benefits of the employees part of the revival plan. However, ₹10 crore has been granted,” a corporation source said, adding that the fund was “just enough” for another two months.
Of the 1.4 crore metre of fabric required for school uniforms of children in government schools under the Vidya Vikas scheme, the corporation has the capacity to produce 50-52 lakh metres annually. “The fund crunch would affect school uniform supplies during the next academic year. Handloom products take time and the necessary quantity has to be produced over time and planned. It will be chain reaction,” a source said.
Satyagraha
The Gram Seva Sangh launched a satyagraha to mark National Handloom Day in Bengaluru on Tuesday. Members of the NGO held a vigil in front of Cauvery Emporium on M.G. Road.
