Support for Hand loom Weavers of Telangana

The Telangana State Handloom Weavers Cooperative Society (TSCO) has been established in the year 2016 duly getting bifurcated from APCO in accordance with the A.P. State Re-organisation Act,2014. There are 380 Primary Handloom Weaver Co-Operative Societies affiliated to TSCO providing work to around 13,000 Handloom Weavers situated in entire Telangana. The main Handloom clusters are Pochampally, Gadwal, Narayanpet and cotton durries from Warangal & bedsheets & towels from Karimnagar etc, The TSCO possesses 9 outlets located in Northern India and 37 outlets situated in Telangana State.

Handloom industry occupies a unique place in the country for its exclusive arts and artefacts’ of handloom weavers. Ethnic handloom design of Telangana state has been promoting the cultural glory of the State over the years. The design pattern of Pochampally Ikat’s, Gadwala cotton, Silk and Sico sarees, Narayanpet cotton, Silk sarees, Warangal durries, Karimnagar bed sheets and furnishing shows the outstanding skills of handloom weavers of the State. A significant portion of State workforce is dependent on handloom industry for employment.

Government has implemented loan waiver scheme to individual handloom weavers/ Weavers cooperative societies, As weavers’ suicides continue in Telangana, the state government has decided to help this distressed community with some welfare schemes which are expected to give a boost to the handloom and powerloom sectors in the state.

“The idea has emanated from KCTCA strong desire to give back to society and especially support women with the help of same art form which has adorned women for centuries. The solution is simple. By promoting the updated and modern Chenetha sarees, dress materials and furnishing and other weaves, we wish to create a new niche market for Chenetha creations. The sale proceeds of that production line will be given to disadvantaged women and create more women entrepreneurs in weaving industries and in other communities.
The basic idea is to bring back the old glory to Gadwal clothing with new embellishments and preserve the old art form with more next generation changes without sacrificing the aesthetic appeal of the collections. We will attract and include many local weavers who are struggling to make both ends meet and upset with lack of buyers of their creations.

The weavers must be protected and preserved and their work should be promoted so that they don’t leave their traditional professions and join the race of sustainable livelihoods. In many cases the master weavers are becoming an endangered species by joining the daily routine…….jobs…..for….survival.

We would request all humanitarians out there to please lend a hand for a great cause.