Madurai: Saurashtra Handloom weavers hopeful of Govt support after PM Modi mentions them in speech

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Madurai: Not too removed from the center of Madurai metropolis, is Krishnapuram Colony, which additionally goes by the identify Weaver’s colony, a reference to the first vocation of these settled there. The group of handloom weavers hail from Saurashtra, which is the peninsular area of Gujarat, that covers practically one-third of the western state. The group from Saurashtra migrated to Tamil Nadu about 400 years in the past and have made the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu their dwelling. 

 

Having fully assimilated into Tamil tradition and traditions, they’re practically indistinguishable from the inhabitants right here, talking in Madurai Tamil and dressed like those that’ve belonged right here for ages. However, the group’s reference to their mom tongue stays as intact as ever. They say that each time they meet one other particular person from their group and area, they’d strike a dialog in their very own language. 

 

Of the practically 300 households that dwell in the weavers’ colony, nearly 200 of them have the standard picket handloom weaving gear, which practically occupies a 150square ft room. 

Haridas Vinayaga, a dealer who has been intently related to the handloom business says that the youthful generations have began shifting to different professions and settling effectively in life. “This art form is passed on from one generation to another, but today only the aged people continue it, as they are left with no other option for their livelihood. They are desperate for Government support”

 

In a stark distinction from practically 25 years in the past, at the moment their inventive work of handloom weaving of cotton saris faces the menace of ceasing to be. Over the final quarter of a century, the emergence of artificial supplies, machine-weaving looms and gross sales of handloom clothes have dented their hopes of a greater life and livelihood. 

 

The weavers say that till the mid-Nineties, the State Government used to supply them uncooked materials and purchase the completed saris, as an element of a Cooperative system. But the Government not solely stopped shopping for from the handloom weavers, however in addition they began procuring machine-made saris, thus dealing a physique blow. Since then, the group of weavers rely on personal suppliers who promote them the uncooked materials and later pay a paltry sum of Rs.200-250 for a handloom sari. 

A household of 4 – Ganesh, Rajeshwari, Kannan and Dhanalakshmi are working on the looms arrange in their houses. It takes practically two days value of effort by all of them to make a single sari that prices round Rs.1000, which is finally offered in outlets for over Rs.2500. The weavers lament that the intermediaries make a big share of the cash beneath the present association. They say {that a} household of 4 members should toil to make round Rs.8000 a month. 

 

The main calls for of the weaver households are a Geographic indication tag for his or her merchandise, authentication for real handloom saris, weaver’s minimal assure amongst others. They are hopeful that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and can assist their group, which belongs to the house state of the Prime Minister himself.

 

On Friday, whereas campaigning for the NDA candidates in Madurai, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech was replete with references to leaders and cultural icons from the area. The NDA’s star campaigner had additionally touched upon this vibrant group from the Saurashtra area, who had made Madurai their dwelling during the last 400 years.





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