Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Traditional sector on revival path

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The traditional industries sector, especially handloom and khadi, is on the revival path. Onam is expected to give a major boost to their innovative production and marketing skills.

Garnering strength from government support and the surging demand for the products, the sector is gearing up to meet the challenges in the global market.

Value-addition, modernisation and professional marketing strategy have given a fresh lease of life to the industries that were gasping for survival till recently. While trying to weave modernity through new designs and patterns, the handloom industry is tipped to meet the demand from the international market through diversification.

Other than the traditional merchandise, weavers now produce lifestyle, home textile products, beach mattress, picnic blanket, small tent, hammock, shoe-holder, fabric chappals and such others to cater to the clientele abroad.

According to Industries Department sources, the intensive training programme drawn up the department in 2007-08 has instilled the courage in weavers to seek new pastures.

As many as 200 weavers are selected for the training annually by the Institute of Handloom and Textile Technology. The department has given nod for setting up a technical training institute at Balaramapuram for Rs.4 crore.

The government initiative to secure an additional Central assistance of Rs.1 crore has attained fruition and the Centre has distributed Rs.30 lakh as the first instalment.

The State government is actively trying to secure national status for the Institute of Handloom and Textiles Technology in Kannur with the support of the Centre. This attempt is expected to overcome the shortcomings in training and also help increase quality and productivity.

The formation of integrated clusters comprising 300 to 500 looms by providing facilities like common facilitation centre, dye house, publicity and marketing mechanism have gone a long way in developing handloom collectives at different places, where there is a concentration of the industry.

The Centre had given permission to form 19 clusters in 2007-08 and five more in 2008-09. In addition, 106 projects have also been submitted to the Centre.

A mega project for Rs.2.43 crore with facilities for dyeing, sizing, warping and winding have been proposed for Kozhikode. This is expected to reduce the dependence on other States for such processes.

The committed efforts of the Industries Department have started yielding results in the khadi industry too. The Khadi and Village Industries Board has widened its activities by including a number of industrial units. Along with the 712 registered units, 320 cooperative societies and 9,180 units run by individuals have evolved as the main beneficiaries of the board.

Products worth Rs.128.80 crore are being produced and marketed for Rs.143.66 crore every year.

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