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Varanasi to be included in cluster development programme

Atiq Khan

VARANASI: In what is seen as a pro-active approach to bail out the ailing handloom industry of Varanasi, the Centre has decided to include the ancient City of Shiva in the Integrated Handloom Cluster Development Programme.

Nearly 20 clusters have been identified in the country and Varanasi would be the first cluster to be developed.

To begin with, the Entrepreneurship Development Institute, Ahmedabad, has already been appointed the cluster development agency for Varanasi. Besides, the United Progressive Alliance Government proposed to reduce the duty on silk yarn and increase it on silk fabric, and also ask the National Handloom Development Corporation (NHDC) to set up a depot for multi-fabrics here

The Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh told The Hindu that it marks the first major intervention by the Central Government in Varanasi. "Cluster development essentially relates to the development of infrastructure facilities in the areas where the handlooms are concentrated. Each cluster would be given Rs. 2 crore for developing infrastructure, which needless to add, is bad in Varanasi", Mr. Ramesh said.

Varanasi has been a traditional centre of silk weaving, over the years, the sales have declined owing to the prohibitive prices of silk sarees, causing a slump in the market.

The sickness in the industry had resulted in hundreds of weavers being thrown out of jobs and forced to take up odd jobs for earning their livelihood.

The home industry suffered also on account of the import of silk yarn from China.

Of the 28,000 tonnes of total consumption of silk yarn in the country last year, 18,000 tonnes was from the domestic market and 10,000 tonnes from China.

Following the Karnataka Government's protest, the Centre levied anti-dumping duty on silk yarn. China responded by flooding the Indian market with silk fabric.

The Union Minister said the Banaras industry got squeezed between the two.

" There are around 1.5 lakh handloom weavers in Varanasi district of which around 50,000 were unemployed," he stated.

Mr. Ramesh who visited Bajhardiha and Ramnanagar for studying the situation of the industry and seeing the plight of the weavers expressed optimism that all was not lost for the Varanasi handloom industry.

" A little push is needed for reviving the industry and improve the lot of the weavers," the Minister said

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