Date:30/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/30/stories/2008053054430500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Handloom census begins in September

M. Dinesh Varma

The third decadal exercise will give an insight into socio-economic profile of labourers

CHENNAI: The third nationwide handloom census that will begin in September holds special significance for Tamil Nadu, which is home to an estimated 4.13 lakh handlooms and 6 lakh traditional weavers.

The decadal exercise, following the 1987-88 and 1995-96 censuses, will go beyond enumeration of handloom units and head count of the workforce and provide more insight into the socio-economic profile of the labourers.

The handloom census featuring house-to-house questionnaire surveys is being undertaken by the National Council of Applied Economic Research, Delhi. The objectives include creation of a database on household and non-household weaving units, the number of handlooms, an analysis of the organisational structure of weaving units and the employment structure of the handloom sector. The census will also carry out socio-economic mapping of workers and assess productivity of workers and looms.

“The data from the census will form the basis for policy formulation and market interventions of the government,” Vishwanath Shegaonkar, Secretary, Handlooms, Handicrafts, Textiles and Khadi, told The Hindu.

Tamil Nadu is one of the few States where handlooms have survived, primarily with the state’s patronage.

The handloom cloth production aggregates Rs. 1,700 crore worth of material, with half of it generated by the 1,000-odd cooperative societies and the other half by the private sector units.

Curiously, handloom activity spreads across every district, though several areas have specialised in one product.

Mr. Shegaonkar pointed out that the handloom sector in Tamil Nadu, too, is under threat from the same set of factors that have hastened the doom of the traditional industry in several other States.