The
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will launch the first National Handloom Day
on 7th August, 2015, at a national level function in Chennai. The
program is being held in the prestigious Centenary hall of Madras University.
The date August 7 has been chosen due to its special significance
in India`s history; it was on this day that the Swadeshi Movement was launched
in 1905. The formal proclamation of Swadeshi Movement was made on August 7,
1905 in a massive meeting in the Calcutta Town hall. The movement involved
revival of domestic products and production processes. The Government of India
has declared August 7 as National Handloom Day every year, in memory of this.
On
the occasion of the first National Handloom Day, the Prime Minister will confer
the Sant Kabir awards and National awards for the years 2012, 2013 and 2014 to
distinguished handloom personalities. The observance of National Handloom Day
and honouring of handloom weavers will not only provide an impetus to the
handloom industry of India but would also serve to promote handloom as a
genuine international product of good quality.
The
Prime Minister will also launch ‘India Handloom’ Brand. An
exhibition showcasing master creations of the awardees is also being
inaugurated on the occasion in the adjacent senate building of Madras
University.
Weaving
section at the Weavers’ service Centre, Chennai.
The
Handloom Day will be celebrated all over the country in cooperation with state
governments.
Background
India
has one of the finest textile traditions in the world. The handloom industry of
India is as old as our civilisation itself and boasts of a lot of living traditions
to this day. Handloom weaving is one of the largest economic activities after
agriculture, providing direct and indirect employment to more than 43 lakh
weavers and allied workers. The sector contributes to nearly 15% of the cloth
production in the country and also contributes to the country’s export earnings.
95% of the world’s hand woven fabric comes from India.
The
handloom forms a precious part of our generational legacy and exemplifies the
richness and diversity of our country and the artistry of our weavers. The tradition
of weaving by hand is a part of the country’s cultural ethos. The handloom
sector has a unique place in our economy. It has been sustained by transferring
skills from one generation to another. The strength of the sector lies in its
uniqueness, flexibility of production, openness to innovations, adaptability to
supplier’s requirements and the wealth of its tradition.
The
Government of India, since independence, has been following a policy of
promoting and encouraging the handloom sector through a number of programmes
and schemes. Due to various policy initiatives and scheme interventions like
cluster approach, aggressive marketing initiative and social welfare measures,
the handloom sector has shown positive growth and the income level of weavers
has improved.
National
Awards
Every
year up to 20 national awards and 20 national merit certificates are given to
outstanding handloom weavers. The national award consists of a certificate,
angavastram, copper plaque and cash award of one lakh rupees. National merit
certificate consists of certificate and cash award of Rs. 50,000. 25 weavers were
conferred National award for the year 2011 by the Hon’ble President of India in
a function held on 1/7/2014 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
Sant
Kabir Award
This
award is being conferred from 2009 onwards to outstanding handloom weavers who
have made valuable contribution in keeping alive the handloom heritage and also
for their dedication in building up linkages between the past, present and the
future through dissemination of knowledge on traditional skills and designs.
Each award consists of one mounted gold coin, tamrapatra, one shawl and a
citation. In addition, financial assistance to the extent of Rs. 6.00 lakh is
also given to each Sant Kabir awardee to innovate and create ten new products
of high level of excellence. Two weavers have been conferred Sant Kabir award
by the Hon’ble President of India in a function held on 1/7/2014 at Vigyan
Bhawan, New Delhi.
DJM