Handloom Sector Research Articles

“CARPET WEAVING TRADITION OF INDIA”

Traditional knowledge is the knowledge base of a particular society or a community which has been generated from one generation to the other over a period of time through the process of learning and sharing. It takes several generations to refine or improve the knowledge base with expertise which they gained through experiences. Ultimately, it becomes the integral part of cultural identity of their community.
 The art of carpet weaving is one of the traditional knowledges which has represented the continuity of the age- old Indian heritage and also the socio-cultural tradition of weaving communities and thus has given Indian carpets a renowned place in the world.
 The magnificence of Indian carpet weaving and the intricate patterns that have emerged from it have substantially increased India’s carpet exports and placed it prominently on the international carpet map and thus has made it the largest exporter of handmade carpets in the world.
 Handloom sector being one of the major sectors which helps the country in maintaining the GDP at present is suffering from high competition to power looms due to the very nature of handmade sector being unorganized and dispersed.
 Therefore, this paper would give the review of carpet tradition in India, its evolution, its present scenario and thus addressing the need to safeguard the knowledge/ skill related with the craft as it is on the verge of losing its identity.

Contribution of the Unpaid Family Labour in the Handloom Sector of Textile Industry in West Bengal

The so-called labour force survey or employment and unemployment survey or census does not account for the unpaid works which are mainly performed by the women. Here is an attempt to access the women’s unpaid work within the production realm; the extent of their contribution in the productivity sector in terms of both money and time where the works they perform remains unnoticed. The result shows that unpaid female labour are contributing a commendable share to the total income generated from the handloom sector in the family (in terms of money). 26% of unpaid female labour contribute more than 50% to the total income generated from the handloom sector, while percentage point of male for this is 16. Time allocation differs by gender in paid and unpaid work. Using the Lorenz curve, male and female relative inequality in spending time within each group has been found. Women form a more heterogeneous group when time spent in paid activity is considered. The Gini coefficient for this group is 0.6, while for male it is 0.12. The graph shows that 50% of women allocate 10% of their total time for paid works, whereas this share of time in unpaid work is about 35%. The Lorenz curve shows the share of total time spent in each activity accumulated up to certain share of population. Regression analysis confirms that male members of the family have more likelihood to be in main weaving activities which are often marked as paid job and females are engaged themselves in the allied works of weaving which are often not remunerated properly or remain unpaid.

Technology, Trade Liberalization, Provisional Advantage and Potentiality of Indian Handloom Sector: A Research during Reform Period

Traditionally Handloom sector was the backbone of Indian industry and the essence of Indian civilization and culture. After the evaluation of industrialization the handloom industry is facing stiff competition with power loom and consistently upgrading technology and other industries, nevertheless, the handloom industry has the significant contribution in the India’s international as well as intra-national trade. With this background, the present paper will examine the comparative advantage of Indian handloom industry with respect to global economy by applying the Ballasa (1965) index of Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) and also examine the export competitiveness by using Porter Export competitiveness model, using highly disaggregated data from 2004 - 2013 by using WITS (World Integrated Trade Solution) WTO data set and the export performance of Indian handloom products during 2013-18 from the handloom export promotion council data set. Under the International classification of commodities at six-digit level, there are 21 groups are classified as the handloom products. This paper has calculated and analyzed the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) of all handloom commodities at disaggregate level. Result shows that India has high revealed comparative advantage in almost all the handloom products, it’s in total 22 hand product India has high comparative advantage in 15 products and having a slight disadvantage in only 6 handloom products in studied and analyzed period of subsequent year 2004-2013. However, the export competitiveness indices show also the export advantage edge in handloom products. It shows that there is high potentiality of growth in handloom industry but lagging under capacity it lies behind it. This paper suggests government initiatives for the realization of handloom sector at its optimum level.

Indian Handloom Sector – A Glimpse

Handloom sector in India is an important unorganized, diversified, decentralized, huge employment provider, good contributory to an economy, eco-friendly, family and rural-based; artistic and heritage. This paper is animated to analyze the important elements of the handloom sector such as dependent households, weavers, looms, worked man-days; production trends, export trends,and imports.

Alignment in the Base of the Pyramid Producer Supply Chains: The Case of the Handloom Sector in Odisha, India

This investigation seeks to explore the effectiveness of alternative approaches to supply chain management for developing the base of the pyramid (BoP) community. Using case research methodology, we investigate the issue of supply chain alignment when the supply base consists of BoP producers. We consider the handloom supply chains in Odisha, India, as the context of our analysis. The study analyzes the supply chains of four handloom retailers. The retailers represent cooperative and private organizational systems with varied levels of operational integration. In light of the insights from these case studies, we theorize factors contributing to operational cost‐effectiveness and conceptualize approaches and considerations for improving the BoP community. Specifically, we clarify the usefulness of alternative supply chain alignment practices in promoting efficiency, innovation, and equitability among the BoP constituents and advance a set of propositions linking the motivations, strategies, practices, and performance in handloom supply chains. Limitations, theoretical and managerial contributions, and future research directions are discussed.

New Product Development in an Emerging Economy: A Multi-Objective Optimisation Approach

Both academia and industry accept unconditionally the significance of new product development and its success in consumer centric businesses. However, one of the key and final indicators of success of any new product “test marketing”, has not received adequate attention from both the said sources due to multiple reasons. In this paper, I provide an efficient alternative to this problem by using a “multi-objective mixed zero one linear programming” based method. This improves the performance of the new product development process and successful commercialization of the merchandise. I provide experimental design based validations to support my claim. In addition, I have focused upon a completely unorganized handloom sector consisting of small and medium enterprises in an emerging economy as the frame of reference for the said test marketing – optimization problem. The empirical primary data and business model analysis of the said study area is completely unique to the best my knowledge in terms of academic coverage. Finally, this study provides a feasible managerial solution to the long standing problems of the handloom sector through the application of appropriate optimization methodology.

A Study On The Economic Impact Of Handloom Co-operatives On Weavers

Aco-operative society is an independent people's association voluntarily united to fulfill their basic economic, social and cultural requirements by means of a collectively owned and democratically controlled activity. The co-operative movement was an awakening movement for handloom and its associated activities. The handloom co-operative societies played a vital role in our country's economy. The societies provided employment as a source of livelihood for millions of handloom weavers. It is an organization for the deprived and innocent person and takes care of the challenges and the growth strategy by providing strategic inputs on the sector they belong. The development and rapid growth of handloom co-operatives are therefore of vital importance. The Government introduces several schemes to increase the competitive strength of the handloom co-operatives. However, not all handloom co-operatives are well managed and well run. The growth performance of a co-operatives establishes the development of other institutions, middlemen, master weavers, independent weavers, and other beneficiaries. Well-performed co-operatives safeguard the handloom sector since they defend the member weavers and afford a counterbalance with the master weaver. The failure of the handloom co-operative societies will produce substantial losses not only to members and society, but also to the community at large. The powerloom is a clear threat, but can be challenged by unique handloom products that can be marketed locally or abroad, unlike powerloom articles. Based on fieldwork, this study analyzes the distribution of income between handloom co-operatives member weavers and non-member weavers.It also analyzes the variations in the expenditure on essentials and traces out the difference in savings and investment pattern of members and non-member weavers. This study was undertaken in Bishnupur Municipality, Bankura District, West Bengal. Athree-stage sampling procedure was followed for sample selection and the responses from the questionnaires are analyzed to test statistically significant differences between the members and non-members. The results revealed that co-operatives have contributed significantly to improve the economic conditions of the weavers. The non-member weavers should become member weavers to get the benefits as enjoyed by the member weavers and increase their social and economic status in the society

Handloom: Indian Heritage in need of Innovation and Revival for Economic transformation

Indian Textiles is several centuries old and is an economically significant sector of the country. Handloom is seen as one of the most vibrant Indian cultural heritage that has an important place in the textile industry. As per 3rd Handloom census, the sector enfolds around 43 lakhs people engaged in weaving and allied activities that majorly constituent rural and semi rural livelihood. It's a cottage industry of India comprising mostly women of about 77%. Despite of being an important sector that supports one of the largest chunks of unorganized sectors of the country it's withering at the hands of modernity. In the era of Power-loom and Technical Textiles the Indian Handloom sector needs revitalization to survive. It is high time to safe guard Handloom sector with innovation and revival to defend the livelihood of unorganized workers, preserve the rich Indian heritage and make the sector a significant contributor of Economic transformation of India. This paper is a comparative study of Innovative intensity of Handloom small business and small scale Technical /powerloom textiles. Structured and unstructured interviews have been conducted with 19 handloom business and powerloom/technical textile business; both at small scale level. Findings show greater Innovative Intensity in Technical/powerloom small business than small handloom business. Also challenges of Handloom textile industry is studied through Fishbone diagram with suggestive measures.

Craft (Ing) Locations: A Study of Locations of Luxury Brands and Exploration of its Implications for the Handloom Sector in NCR, India

Craft (Ing) Locations: A Study of Locations of Luxury Brands and Exploration of its Implications for the Handloom Sector in NCR, India

Involvement of Women in Handloom Segment: An Empirical Study With Reference To Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh

The handloom is a traditional craft work of India and it provides employment opportunities to lakhs of people in the rural and urban areas of our country. In the world women constitutes approximately 50% of the total population but society is still male dominated one. In India women contributed substantially to the economic growth of the country.The relationship between gender and the economy has considerable importance in Indian society. In general attitude of the people women are second grade citizens and they are makers of food, pickles, papads, masalas etc,. But their role is very important in every economic activity, either it is household work or cultivation or industry or service sector etc,. Like the other sectors the role of women weavers is very much important in handloom sector. Handloom sector is unique in India. The handloom weaving is household profession, followed by generations. In these households, women play an important role. Handloom sector is the only manufacturing sector in which women producing for women.

DEVELOPING A CONCEPTUAL MODEL TO SUSTAIN HANDLOOM SILK INDUSTRY AT SUALKUCHI, ASSAM, INDIA

Silk industry in Assam, India is centered at Saulkuchi, Kamrup district. Silk is the protein fiber produced by silkworm for spinning the cocoon. Assam produces three indigenous varieties of silk - Muga, Pat and Eri. The objective of our study is to prescribe a conceptual model using the concepts of distributed economics and sustainability to preserve the unique culture of the area which is diminishing due to lack of the product’s demand. The contextual inquiry was carried out for various stakeholders of Assam silk industry at Saulkuchi - cocoon cultivator, weaver and shopkeeper with an objective to understand the channel of material from raw material to the final product, to understand how they use different tools to perform their tasks and to understand their networking among various stakeholders involved in silk handloom sector. Their responses were analyzed and the stakeholder’s goals, needs and frustrations were identified using AEIOU and empathy mapping. The major frustration of the stakeholders was the decrease in the demand for their products due to the growth of power loom and not able to reach the elite target population. The prescriptions for a village tourism and an e-commerce platform for selling silk handloom fabrics to targeted buyers was built on the concepts of distributed economics and three pillars of sustainability - environment, economic and social. Keywords: Silk, Assam, Distributed Economics, Sustainability, Tourism, E-commerce, Small-scale production units

Handloom Industry in Telangana State - An Overview

Handloom sector play key role the economic development of the state providing employment to the more then 2,40 laks handloom weavers in Telangana state Handloom weavers in are divided into independent weavers, master weavers labour weavers and working under middle man it is the one of the oldest profession of India

A case study of the handloom sector of West Bengal

The handloom sector occupies an important place in Indian economy. The sector is the largest generator of non-farm rural employment. Moreover, women contribute heavily to the handloom sector. The survival of the handloom industry and its ability to survive under varied range of economic perspective needs to be understood so that one can understand the long run viability of this enterprise. An in depth appraisal of the handloom industry is therefore the need of the hour. Keeping this in mind and the fact that handloom occupies second place to agriculture, we have made a comparative analysis of the handloom sector of West Bengal with special reference to the products produced, level of employment, availability of credit and type of households dependent on handlooms.

Make in India: A Platform to Indian Handloom Market

Make in India- a program designed and initiated by the government of India to promote India as a global manufacturing destination, facilitate investment, foster innovation, and build best-in-class manufacturing infrastructure. This 'Make in India' campaign covering 25 sectors, including the textiles and garments, is going to become a land mark for Indian Textiles Industry. Handloom being a major sub-sector of Indian Textiles Industry plays a pivotal role in Indian economy, providing direct employment to over 65 lakh persons engage in weaving and allied activities. With almost one fourth of the total textile production and contributing substantially to the export earnings, the handloom remains dominant industrial sector in the country. Handloom is unparalleled in its flexibility and versality, permitting experimentation and encouraging innovation. Innovative weavers with their skillful blending of myths, faiths, symbols and imagery provide the fabric an appealing dynamism. But still handloom continues to be a traditional and hereditary occupation, using traditional methods of production and designs due to lack of exposure, awareness and knowledge about changing technologies, methods and the requirements. Therefore, there is a need to make handloom tradition fashionable by introducing new designs and colour schemes, so that it can find a reference place in global textiles industry. Handloom weavers can make it possible by using 'Make in India' as a platform and at the same time can promote themselves and their innovative products not only in India but in global market also. Keywords: Make in India, Indian Handloom sector, textile, weavers, innovation, marketing strategies

Do home-based micro-entrepreneurial earnings empower rural women? Evidence from the handloom sector in Assam

Access to income through home-based activities is important for empowering disadvantaged groups of society, especially women. The present paper seeks to analyze the extent of empowerment of women engaged in the handloom sector in Assam in North Eastern India. Our study refines five empowerment indicators of economic, social, and cultural relevance, such as decision-making ability, freedom of movement, ownership of assets and income, male preference, and domestic violence. This is based on primary survey data collected from 328 married women from six districts of Assam to examine how engagement in handloom activities empowers them. Results indicate the existence of spatial variations as well as gaps in women’s empowerment. The parsimonious regression results show that age, educational attainment, income from handloom activities, and government support have had positive influences. Engagement in the handloom activities improves intra-household power relations significantly in favor of women and thereby reduces preference for males and domestic violence. The study urges that there should be better policies to facilitate women in accessing productive resources, especially financial ones. Micro-finance institutions can be encouraged to promote women’s active participation in home-based activities, which in turn should improve the overall empowerment of women.

Capital factors and rural women entrepreneurship development

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the roles of four specific capital factors, namely, human, social, institutional and financial capitals, in rural women entrepreneurship. The focus was on the handloom sector in Manipur, India.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses qualitative research methodology with a multiple case study approach. Data were collected using in-depth interviews to study seven cases of rural women entrepreneurs.FindingsThe study highlights that human, social, institutional and financial capitals play significant roles in encouraging rural women to engage in entrepreneurial activities and influence strategic decisions. Each capital factor being interrelated, achieving the integration among them will considerably enhance entrepreneurial success.Research limitations/implicationsThe main limitation is the narrow scope, emphasizing on only four capital factors. There are implications for further work on other types of capital. The study being sector specific, limits generalization. It contributes insights into the need for multi-sector examinations in the literature.Practical implicationsRural women entrepreneurship needs are in line with understanding the roles of capital factors and their interrelations. The role of capital factors varies between prior and no prior entrepreneurial experiences.Originality/valueThis study provides information on the role of capital factors on rural women entrepreneurship and contributes to better understanding of how each capital factor is accumulated and utilized in rural women entrepreneurship development using the perspective of handloom sector in Manipur, India.

Present Scenario and Future Challenges in Handloom Industry in Bangladesh

Handloom industry in Bangladesh is having glorious past, questionable present and blurry future due to a lot of internal and external factors that are acting behind the scene [19]. Handloom sector in Bangladesh consists of more than 0.183 million handloom units with 0.505 million handlooms and about 1 million handloom weavers of which about 50% are female worker. This ancient and most important cottage industry of Bangladesh is now on the way of extinction because of various problems and barriers adjacent to this industry. This study found that in Bangladesh there are about 183512 handlooms weaving units with about 505556 looms. The total operational looms are 311851, which are 61.7 percent of total looms, and the rest 193705 looms are non-operational. We have found some reasons for shutting down of looms: lack of capital, lack of raw materials, inadequate technology, poor marketing system, inadequate government support etc. So, government should take necessary steps to overcome these challenges for the development of the handloom industry.

Dead End at the Silk Road: The Possible Revival of the Banaras Handloom Industry

An emerging market provides an ideal platform for a product or a sector to reinvent itself. The growth that is forecasted for the Indian textiles and garment market can be efficiently utilized by the handloom sector to come back from the cold and become a booming business once again. However, this largely unorganized sector needs active support from the state and the private players in terms of policy reforms and effective logistics management to get back on its feet once again. With the new government's chant of Make in India, this study reflected the ground realities whilst making in India by shedding light on the grass root level hardships that the weavers of the Varanasi cluster face and went on to suggest certain policy level interventions for the development of the weaver community and the handloom sector as a whole. Furthermore, the paper highlighted how ineffective civic governance can have adverse effects on businesses as well.

Dwindling Handloom, Sinking Weavers in Western Uttar Pradesh: A Case Study of Pilkhuwa, Amroha and Muradnagar

There has been an upsurge of interest on the history and conditions of handloom weavers in India in recent years. Various works have appeared. There has, however, been a dearth of microscopic studies relating to the health rights and poverty among the handloom weaving community of India in general and of Western UP in particular. Handloom weaver as a person devoid of basic health rights and subjected to the most inhuman form of poverty – has never been the central theme of the practical research works. According to the Approach Paper for the 12th Plan, the handloom sector is a major employment generating sector. As per the Handloom Census of 2009-10, there are 23.77 lakh handlooms in the country, providing employment to 43.32 lakh handloom weavers and ancillary workers. The dispersed and decentralized handloom sector embodies the traditional wisdom, cultural wealth and secular ethos of our country. It is not just a source of livelihood for lakhs of weavers and artisans, but also environment friendly, energy and capital saving and labour-intensive form of art that has secured India’s presence in millions of homes across the globe. Equally importantly, this sector constitutes the only industry in the country that provides low cost, green livelihood opportunities to millions of families, supplementing incomes in seasons of agrarian distress, checking migration and preserving traditional economic relationships. With women contributing the majority of pre- and post-loom labour and accounting for over 50% of artisans in the country, and a significant mass of weavers/artisans consisting of scheduled castes, schedules tribes and religious minorities, this sector also represents the economic lifeline of the most vulnerable sections of our society. Over the decades, the situation of most weaver’s has deteriorated into a pitiful state, as weavers face increased poverty, hunger, health issue and inability to provide for their families. There is a high level of tuberculosis and malnutrition leading to depression and in some cases, suicide. Weavers also lack accession to public health centres due to severe operational and logistic constraints. The present project intends to highlight the forms of poverty and deprivations prevalent among the handloom weavers of Western Uttar Pradesh.

Handloom Industry in Uttar Pradesh: Major Challenges and Prospects

The handloom sector embodies the rich traditional, historical and cultural diversity that distinguishes India from the rest of the world. It has been sustained by transferring skills from one generation to another. This industry is one of the oldest industries in India and provided livelihood to millions of rural people across the country for centuries. However, it was reduced to ashes during the colonial rule by the entry of cheap and quality clothes made in the mills of England, but after independence, it started reviving due to the government interventions. Today, in the country, handloom production is the second largest employment-generating activity after agriculture and it contributes nearly 14% share of the total production of textile industry. But at the present time, this industry is facing multifarious problems that some other industries do not have. The government of India is consistently pursuing to bring about improvement in the productivity and marketing of handloom sector; still it can be seen that weavers are facing severe livelihood crisis. To make the industry profitable, the problems should be identified as well as the strength and weaknesses should be estimated. In this regard, the present article analyses the challenges and opportunities before the handloom industry, especially in the state of Uttar Pradesh and suggests for remedies to strengthen its position in the economy.