Handloom industry spreads wings in villages

With the Handloom and Textiles Department having placed its foot forward in opening handloom centers in the rural areas of Dakshina Kannada district, the handloom industry is slowly spreading its wings in the coastal region.

At a time when the human resource in coastal region is costlier compared to all other districts in the State except Bangalore, the success of the handloom industry which is basically dependent on the human resource is in question.

For majority of the lower income group women in the district, beedi rolling is the most preferred job. The beedi business which entered the region four decades back, turned out to be a gift for the unemployed women.

However, the impact of beedi rolling on health too was realised with the passing days, which has made a few women to shift their attention from beedi rolling to other jobs like that of handloom industry.

The Handloom and Textile Industry has been running handloom training centers in Kuthlur in Belthangady taluk, Bannadka in Moodbidri, Mudipu in Mangalore, Dasanakaje in Sullia and in Kukkujadka.

Six months training courses are provided for a batch of 20 members at a time with the help of local administration and non-government organisations. A stipend amount of Rs 2,000 per month is given to the trainees.

Training has been already offered to four teams in naxal affected Kuthlur region, while two rounds of training have been offered in rest of the centers and applications have been invited to start the third training session.

The Department provides few rolls of handloom threads free of cost to the participants who complete their training session. The Self-Help Groups consisting of 20 members each have been formed to carry out the work after the completion of the training process. The warping process requires at least three to four members, while one alone can weave the handloom.

A sum of Rs 50 is given for weaving a bed sheet, Rs 64 for ‘lungi’ and Rs 25 for towel is offered for the weavers after the training. A person can weave two bed sheets in a day.

Along with it, all the government facilities including Rs one lakh for the house construction, medical expenses, insurance, credit card, scholarships to the children of weavers too are offered by the government.

Under Suvarna Vasthra Neethi scheme, stitching training too is offered in various parts of the district and stipend of Rs 2,000 is given for a month’s training, informed Handloom and Textile Department Assistant Director Shivashankar.

He said that weaving saree and ‘lungi’ requires high quality thread. The freshers are asked to weave only bed sheets in the initial days while they will be given the responsibility of weaving sarees and lungi after observing their skill for a specific period.
The Department has a tie up with Haleyangadi Co-operative Society which supplies thread and also sells the product.

There is a huge demand for bed sheets from the hospitals and lodges. The products are also sold through Siri Institute of Dharmasthala.

Those who are interested in handloom weaving, can also weave clothes sitting at home. The Department staff visit the houses, supply the thread and collect the product once in 15 days. Sowmya from Dasanakaje who has undergone training says that she can easily earn Rs 100 in a day through handloom weaving.

A training centre is operated in Dasanakaje in the village of Sullia MLA S Angara, in association with Din Dayal Education Trust. Angara’s younger brother Sanjeeva and Nellur Kemraje Gram Panchayat President Varija Dasanakaje who too have undergone the training say that the wage given for handloom work is less compared to the wage given to other labourers in the district.