'Handloom is fabric of the future'

Desi, a leading service organisation in Karnataka in the handloom sector has announced its awards for the year 2008-2009.

Handloom Weavers Cooperative Society of Gajendragad in Gadag district, Shri Shakambhari Weavers Cooperative Society of Sulebhavi in Hungund taluk of Bagalkot district, designer Gopikrishna of Belgaum and T V Hasilkar of Guledgudda of Bagalkot district have been selected for the award.

Noted theatre personality and member of the Desi Trust Prasanna told reporters here that a committee of experts headed by joint director of department of handloom and textile A Anand had selected the awardees on the basis of their contribution for the promotion of handloom products.

The award comprising Rs 25,000 cash and a bronze idol of Mahatma Gandhi along with citation would be presented at a function to be held on May 30 at Srujana auditorium in Dharwad at 6 pm. Minister for textile Goolihatti Shekhar will be the chief guest. The award presentation will be followed by vocal recital by Pandit Venkatesh Kumar.

Prasanna said the products of award winning individuals and organisations would be on sale at the Desi shop in Dharwad for a week from May 31.

Prasanna said that Desi believes that handloom is not a dying industry as is being projected generally. “We think that naturally dyed handloom fabric is in fact the fabric of the future. But because of terrible disconnect between the market place and dispersed rural production system the current scenario is abysmal for the poor weaver. Weavers are quitting the profession in hoards and are migrating to the cities. In order to encourage weavers to continue weaving Desi has introduced a productivity linked bonus scheme to all the pre-loom process workers and weavers who are part of the supply chain for Desi. This bonus shall be in addition to the wages they get from their respective societies” he said.