The sad state of looms and weavers at Vanaja Weavers Cooperative Society. This society opened around 1965 and has over 65 looms of which only 6 are in operation at present. Most weavers have retired and none of the young ones want to take it up. In a state where minimum wages are above Rs. 800/day for a heavy load lifter, no one wants to take up a job that at best pays only about Rs. 400 a day. On an average, the weavers are able to weave 5 mts of cloth. They are now surviving on the Govt. orders for school uniforms. Only one loom had a saree on it because there was a demand for those at the exhibition stall in the city.
And yet, not all is gloomy. As a visit to another weaver’s society, Chirakkal Weavers Cooperative Society proved. The situation there was much more upbeat. Housed in a better two storey building, there were over 100 looms and weavers working on bedsheets, furnishings and sarees. There were a few office bearers too and proper systems in place that suggested a more prosperous situation.
The Kerala govt. handloom showrooms, Hantex, also suggested ‘acchey din’. What used to be a gloomy shop with 2-3 staff and no customers walking in, has changed to a brightly lit showroom with a crowd of festive shoppers vying to get attention of the 5-6 salespeople there.
