HEPC's efforts to rescue handloom sector in crisis

In the tough times of recession, one of the worst hit industries in India is handloom sector. In the time of crisis, HEPC is making an effort to provide marketing support to the Indian handloom sector, which is also biggest installation in the world.

TEXTILE INDUSTRY in India is largest employer of the nation after agriculture, yet it has a very small share in the global market. But a subset of it – handloom sector can take pride to be number one in the installed capacity. This is because India is the only country which produces handloom on a commercial scale.

The world's installed capacity of handloom is currently 4.60 million. Out of this 85 per cent are installed in India. India’s handloom sector with 3.89 million looms, employs 6.55 million people, accounts for 13 per cent of the total cloth production and nearly 16 per cent of the country’s total cotton textile exports of Rs 1,772 million, as per the latest official data.

These numbers are as per the last census, which is undertaken once in 10 years. The fresh National Handloom Census is in progress across the country and would be completed by December 2009.

The handloom industry produces a staggering variety of clothes and handloom products, with each state having its own specialties, due to the different ethnic traditions as well as craftsmanship. Banarasi and Kanjivaram Saries, Kashmiri Shawls and Moradabadi Carpets all are unique in themselves. Given the rich cultural heritage and uniqueness of Indian handlooms across various States, it could be further upgraded into a 'collector’s item' through well planned promotional efforts which HEPC is trying.

To help unorganised handloom sector survive the tough time Handloom Export Promotion Council has come out with the idea of bringing out Handloom Atlas of India and circulate it through various external affairs ministry missions.

The atlas is in four main international languages - English, German, French and Japanese along with an interactive CD,

The atlas will help people to source the right kind of products from the right manufacturers from various clusters in India. The atlas covers topics like production of yarn, number of spinning mills, weaver’s service centres and list of textile research associations. One can also get details of handloom clusters, exports of Indian handloom items and number of spindles across the country. It also provides information about each state’s products and specialisation.

The unorganised handloom sector suffers from three main problems - availability of timely and adequate credit; technology up-gradation; and marketing support. The government has announced to provide loans at rate of seven per cent. It is also considering a loan waiver of 26 thousand million rupees.

These measures might provide some relief to the handloom sector. Textiles as whole has grown at a compounded rate of around 10 per cent in last five years, but is currently under high pressure of dumping from China and insensitive government policies.

Source: http://www.merinews.com/