HISTORY OF HANDLOOM WEAVING IN INDIA

Handloom weaving in India is still largely a house hold enterprise as well as being
predominantly a rural activity (with the exception of Maharashtra). It has conventionally
been one of the most promising sectors of huge employment. In spite of agriculture industry
is also a largest provider of work force. The abundance in the raw material, the continuous
supply of cheap work force is the contributing factors behind the success of the weaving
industry in India. However, the liberalization of the international trade coupled with change
in the reforms of domestic economy, have made affected the weaving industry employs a
large section of the Indian population, it is considered as a failing industry. Though this
ancient industry of India is experiencing a bad phase, a large market for weaving products
still exist both in the international and domestic market. The manufacturing of the weaving
products makes a remarkable contribution to the national GDP and even in the exports
revenue estimates over the years have found out that the weaving industry are supporting
some 32 other sectors that include marketing, financial transportation, Hotels and even
maintenance services. The weaving industry in India has self depending mechanism that
includes training the young weaver, abundance of resources and capacities, thereby helping
the industry not to be dependent and is aimed at the cutting back on the environmental
impact. At present the share of the handloom industry stands at 18.75% of the total cloth
production. The major contribution of handloom sector is however in terms of providing
employment to 124 lakhs people and thus stands next to agriculture out of this 60% are
women, 12% SC and 20% ST (ministry if textiles : 2001). There are 38.91 lakhs handlooms
in India. Though its share in total textile export is 10% (EXIM: 2001), its labour intensive
character, decentralized nature and optimum utilization of Scarce capital resources give it a
unique position in the Indian economy. It weavers a range of fibers like cotton, silk, tussar,
Jute, wool, and synthetic blands. The share of textile exports in the total exports of India has
shown or increasing trend and now stands at 35.5%. Thus textile have grown over the
decades. As the simple largest foreign exchange earner. This is of great significance taking
into account the fact that textile industry has low import intensity at 2-3%.
HANDLOOM CO-OPERATIVES IN KERALA
The Handloom industry is a traditional industry in Kerala. It is estimated that there
are 75000 handlooms sectors. The Handloom weavers are mainly concentrated in
Trivandrum, Kannur, Kollam, Eranakulam and Palakkad Districts. There are 493
handloom Societies in Kerala with a membership of 60,000. Most of the weavers
Societies in Kerala are in of cottage type. There are about 40 factory type weavers
societies in the states. The primary weaver societies are mainly engaged in the production
of handloom cloth. Usually, the societies supply raw materials to 9 the members with the
direction for clothes to be produced. The members return the woven clothes to the
societies which in tune arrange for the marketing through its own sales departments or
through apex weaver society. The members are paid wages for their work and profit of
any, is distribute among them.
Primary handloom societies are affiliated to the Kerala State handloom weavers
Co-operative Society Ltd; which is the apex society of weavers Co-operatives and which
finance primary societies in the State. It was registered in 1964 with its head quarters at
Trivandrum. Membership of the apex society is open to all primary weavers societies and
the state government. This apex society has made commendable work in procurement
and sale of the product of member societies.

Chart 2.1
STRUCTURE OF INDIAN TEXTILE INDUSTRY















Indian Textile mill Industry
Organized Sector Unorganized Sector
Hosiery Sector (95% share in
total cloth)
Mill Sector (55 share in total
cloth production)
Handloom Sector
Power loom Sector

PROBLEMS OF HANDLOOM CO-OPERATIVES
1. Various Institutions like NABARD, District Co-operative Bank, State Co-operative
Bank, etc. are not providing enough financial assistance to handloom Co-operatives.
2. Primary handloom Societies are finding it difficult to market the products of the
members.
3. Most of the handloom Societies are using out dated implements and Techniques of
Production.
4. Yarn is the important raw material required by the handloom industry. Since most of
the spinning mills are in private sector, handloom societies do not yet enough
quantities of material regularly.
5. Most of the handloom societies are manage by those persons who have not much
knowledge of management because these persons are appointed on the basis of their
political background.





HISTORY OF HANDLOOM WEAVING IN KANNUR
Till the early 19
th
century, Kannur was under the rules of the chera kings; then
came the Kolathiri Rajas. In order to help them against their arch rivals, the zamorins, the
rajas established alliances with the Portuguese, in the 6
th
century with their
encouragement, the European power established a strong hold in Malabar and made
decisive victories against the zamorins army.
Later that Dutch and the British established their control over this land. Except for
Tippu Sultans opposition and Pazhassi Rajas revolt, there were no major protests
against the British rule, till the 9
th
century.
With the strengthening of the national movement, Kannur become a centre of political
activity. In 1928, Payyannur in Kannur, hosted the all Kerala Political conference that
was presided over by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. The place was also at the fore front of the
salt Sathyagraha and other civil Disobedience movements.