The apprehension of a change in
definition of ‘handloom’ has triggered speculation and insecurity amongst a
section of weavers and handloom activities and given a mistaken impression on handloom
activists that Government has taken a decision to allow the introduction of
automatic machines to replace handlooms and that the Government intends to
change the definition of ‘handlooms to include such mechanized looms’.
In this regard, it is clarified
that no change is contemplated by Ministry of Textiles, in definition of
‘handloom’, which has been defined as
“any loom other than powerloom”
under the Handlooms (Reservation of Articles for Production) Act, 1985.
Handloom weaving
constitutes one of the richest and most vibrant aspects of the Indian cultural
heritage. As per handloom census 2009-10, the handloom sector provides
employment to 43.3 lakh weavers and allied workers whereas the number was 65
lakh in 1995-96. The reduction in number of handloom weavers has been a cause
of concern for Government. The sector is facing constraints such as lack of
technological upgradation, inadequate availability of
inputs, non-availability of adequate and timely credit, lack of contemporary
designs etc. Further a trend
is noticed that the younger generation is not willing to continue with this
profession or be attracted to it owing to low generation
of income and hard labour required to operate looms whereas easier earning options
are available.
The Government has been considering various ways to
arrest this decline and has been implementing various developmental and welfare
schemes to sustain the handloom sector. To improve the productivity and reduce
the manual labour on loom, the Advisory Committee on Handloom Reservation Act, in its
meeting held on August 10, 2012 had recommended the modifications in definition
of handloom as“handloom
means any loom, other than powerloom; and includes any hybrid loom on which at
least one process for weaving requires manual intervention or human energy for
production’.
The Parliamentary
Standing Committee on Labour also supported the
amendment in definition of handloom in various meetings. However, the amendment
of the definition has since been re-considered by the Government. It has also
been opposed by handloom experts and civil society members who have said that
this change in definition of handloom would gradually eliminate the difference
between handloom and powerloom and lead to cornering of benefits meant for
handloom weavers by the powerloom sector.
Various aspects pertaining
to amendment of the definition and other incidental issues has recently been
studied in greater detail by a sub-committee of the Advisory Committee which
was constituted for the purpose. The committee of officials comprising of
representatives from various states, Textile Committee, Textile Commissioner,
Powerloom division and Development Commissioner for handlooms have studied the matter
in depth and submitted a report.
The Sub-Committee while visiting different parts
of the country examined various issues including different types of looms
being operated by handloom weavers in handloom clusters across the country, the
extent of modernization/mechanization being carried out in different parts of
the country, scope for further improvement /upgradation
of looms mechanically without use of power to reduce manual labour and to
improve productivity without compromising the quality of handloom fabric and the
possibility of replicating such interventions in other handloom
clusters/pockets.
The Sub-Committee submitted its report on 29th
October, 2013 to Government. The
Sub-Committee has recommended that in the process of weaving, the weaver does
not use power and hence definition of handloom need not be changed and it
should remain in the purest form.The Ministry of Textiles has
accepted the report of the sub-committee and no amendment in the Handloom Reservation Actto change the
definition of handloom is contemplated.
*****
DS