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Photo: G. Moorthy.

Untangling Weavers at work

Welcome to the weaver’s colony, 15 km off Madurai, where mere threads are almost magically transformed into colourful fabric.

“The Government established Kaithari Nagar in 1983 with HUDCO loan to help the weavers,” says J.S. Hari Krishnan, president, Kaithari Nagar Iykkia Sangam.

Weavers belonging to various co-operative societies bought land at a cost of Rs.65 per cent in the 80s. Later the Government stepped in and constructed the houses. Initially there were 400-odd houses which grew to a 1000-plus in no time.

Being a labour dominated area mainly with weavers as its occupants, the cost of the land has not escalated as in other areas, points out Mr. Hari Krishnan.

Kaithari Nagar comprises eight colonies - Ramakrishna, Bakath Singh, Radha Krishna, Bharatha Jothi, Balaji, Angayarkanni, Nehru, Maruthi – named after the co-operative societies that existed then. Besides, the nagar has about 1000 private houses in a circumference of two miles.

Every colony has its own residents’ welfare association since its origin. In 2001, eight welfare associations joined together to form Kaithari Nagar Iykkia Sangam.

The colony has about 5000 looms. On an average every house has two looms but 90 percent of the work is done for private parties, says A.M. Jeyandran, a resident.

“We live amidst threads and looms as they give us livelihood but the present generation is more interested in studying and opting for different and more lucrative jobs. But during leisure time, they prefer to sit in the looms, as it is an art that has been handed down for generations together,” says M.R. Satyamoorthy, vice-president, Kaithari Nagar Iykkia Sangam.

All said and done the area lacks many facilities including the basic ones such as adequate drinking water or even coarse water for their professional use, minimal bus service, bad roads and lack of proper lighting.

“Labourers live here but the owners live in the city. Travel is mandatory for our livelihood but there are only seven low frequency buses,” Mr. Jeyandran says.

Especially in the mornings students have a tough time to reach schools in the city. Kaithari Nagar has only two primary and one middle school. Students in higher classes have no other choice but to attend city schools, he adds.

S.J. Desikan, another resident, says that even minibuses do not come to their rescue as they ply only between Tiruparankundram and Kaithari Nagar and nearby areas.

Water scarcity is another major problem of the area. The area has one panchayat overhead tank that can spare only five to 10 pots of water for every house daily. For drinking water they solely rely on private lorries that sell water for Rs.1.50 (big pot) and Rs.1 (small pot). A few, who can afford, have their own borewells.

For medical help, the residents visit the Tiruparankundram Hospital or Government Rajaji Hospital as most of them are not ready to, or rather cannot afford, going to the private hospitals that are in the vicinity.

Bad roads, lack of street lights are other problems but steps are being taken to lay better roads and rectify street lights, says Mr. Hari Krishnan and adds that the police personnel extend a great support in containing thefts and other petty crimes.

Earlier the area was inhabited only by weavers mostly belonging to Sourashtra Community. “But now more local people have joined us in decent numbers in the private plots,” says A. Vairamani, another resident.

Besides, many weavers (Sourashtra Community) from the city have moved to the Kaithari Nagar for rent, as they could not find necessary space for the ‘paavu’ works in the city. They can get a house at a rent of Rs.500 to Rs.600 that provides space for two looms besides the long and straight roads for ‘paavu’ work, says Mr. Jeyandran.

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