In discussions on growth in the textile sector, handloom rarely finds a place. Subsequent to liberalisation, there was no need for any subterfuge as the removal of import restrictions and deregulation of industries gave a big boost to the power loom and mill sectors.
Then there was the illegal encroachment of handloom markets through perfect imitations of handloom products. This included power loom users claiming the subsidies earmarked for handlooms in the early decades after independence, as years of field work has shown. The growth in power looms, now supplying more than 70% of Indian textiles, according to textile ministry statistics, came on the heels of a systematic destruction of the handloom industry. These factors have hampered growth in the handloom industry and pushed it into the margins.
The reasons are hidden in narratives of productivity and efficiency, and fuelled by the discourse of progress and development.
The position of handlooms in the socio-political arena and the sector’s annual contribution to the economy cannot be objectively stated.
