Jamtikra: Although the demand for handloom sarees, clothes, dupattas, bed sheets and door screens is on the rise, the economic condition of weavers of Bargarh district has not improved, ironically.
Lack of adequate governmental support and inaction of district officials have closed the path of the weavers’ progress. The youngsters of local weaver families are turning down their face from the traditional occupation, in the absence of proper training and technical know-how, adequate loan facility, availability of raw material and necessary marketing facility.
Moreover, most of the families of Topa, Banahar, Singhapali, Hirlipali, Lurupali, Jhiliminda, Saranda, Rangiatikra and Kadobahal villages are handloom weavers. Shockingly, the livelihoods of about 30 per cent weaver families of Attabira block in Bargarh district are at stake. They are unable to manage their household expenses with low wage, as the prices of all commodities are going high.
According to sources, a weaver family usually takes three days to weave a saree which fetches a wage of about Rs 900 from respective weavers’ societies. The society supplies yarns and dyeing colours to the weavers. Some non-member weaver families also buy yarns and dyes, the prices of which have escalated by 50 per cent over the past five years.
Expressing his anguish, Sebaram Meher, a local handloom weaver, said, “One bunch of yarn costs about Rs 2,400 to Rs 3,000 as per the specification. In addition, the cost of other ancillary products has also gone up, in recent times.”
The weaver families who take hand loans are unable to repay on time. They are also facing difficulties to cope with price escalation of weaving materials. The state government’s handloom department has been making tall claims about programmes to better weavers’ condition, he added.
PNN