Handloom cluster scheme to take off

Work on establishing 10 handloom clusters in the state is all set to commence soon with the Tamil Nadu government sanctioning Rs 1.43 crore. These would be taken up under the Centrally-sponsored integrated handloom cluster development scheme. The Centre has given its nod for setting up 25 handloom clusters totally and of them 10 are coming up this year and the remaining 15, in the next phase.

The scheme focuses on cluster approach and comes in four components: Clusters having handlooms in the range of 300–500 per cluster, group approach to be implemented in project mode outside the cluster in adjacent geographical areas, assistance for handloom organisations and supplementary works.

About Rs 5.97 crore would be spent for promoting the 10 clusters and another Rs 8.76 crore for the 15 other clusters. Nilayur, Palani, Veeravanallur, Padirivedu, Jayankondam, Kandachipuram, Appakudal, Sholinghur, Sirumugai and Thandampalayam are the 10 places that have been identified. The remaining clusters will, among other places, cover Karur, Gobi, Chennimalai, Palliyadi, Tirupur, Kumbakonam, Chinnalapatti and Gudiyattam. According to sources, the Centre has already released Rs 4.02 crore towards the first instalment of grant component for implementation of the scheme in 25 handloom clusters.

This cluster scheme is in addition to the three major clusters coming up at a cost of Rs 6 crore at Trichy, Thiruvannamalai and Kurinjipadi apart from 37 mini-clusters.

Under this scheme, financial assistance of Rs 60 lakh will be provided to each cluster for three years.

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Weavers turn producers in Chanderi handloom cluster

The Chanderi Handloom Cluster in Madhya Pradesh was identified under the Integrated Handloom Cluster Development Scheme of the Office of the Development Commissioner for Handlooms in2006-07.

It is now reaping fruits of the interventions made under the scheme for the 3000 Handloom Cluster Weavers. For the first time the handloom weavers are organized into a Producers’ Company which is a legal entity representing 50 Self-Help Groups (SHGs).

The Producers’ Company was constituted in 2008-09 (vide a new enactment in the constitution in the year 2004) which facilitated equal sharing of dividends to all members.

Each weaver/member associated with it purchased 10 shares of Rs.10 each in 2008-09 and the initial 10 subscribers increased to 249 members by end of 2009-10.

The weavers’ SHGs (of which more than 35 were women SHGs) were provided market exposure through exhibitions and sales so as to make them understand the techniques of marketing the products.

The interventions of Office through the Development Commissioner for Handlooms provided design support through the NIFT qualified designer Shri Sanjay Garg, infrastructural support and marketing linkage i.e. both forward and backward linkage.

This enabled the existing skills of weavers to be showcased at appropriate forum in State and National level exhibitions. The marketing efforts resulted in securing orders with large renowned retailers like Life Style, CCIC, Tahiliani Designs, Raw Mango, Utsav, Kamla, Sutra Marketing Pvt. Ltd. Delhi, Shades of India, Ahilya Creations, Mumbai, Realm Exports, Pantaloon etc.

Participation in 85 exhibitions across the country and 18 Buyer Seller Meets have resulted into orders worth Rs.2.62 crore for the cluster.

Smt. Rita Menon, IAS, Secretary (Textiles) visited Chanderi Handloom Cluster along with Shri R.N. Choubey, D.C. (Handlooms) on 30.7.2010 to distribute dividends accrued to the shareholders during 2008-09 and 2009-10.

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