Source: News on Air
Context: The Ministry of Textiles is organising ‘Srijan: Voices from the Loom’ in New Delhi to celebrate the contribution of women weavers to India’s handloom heritage.
What It Is
- A special programme recognising the stories, skills and contributions of women weavers engaged in India’s handloom sector, giving women artisans a platform to narrate their experiences of resilience, creativity and preservation of traditional weaving practices.
- Organised by: Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.
- Aim: to recognise and amplify the voices of women weavers, celebrate their role in preserving India’s weaving traditions, and highlight their contribution to the country’s handloom heritage.
Key Features
- Women weaver participation — brings together over 100 women weavers from six handloom clusters.
- First-person narratives — a platform for weavers to share personal journeys, challenges and achievements.
- Celebrating resilience — highlights how women artisans sustain livelihoods while overcoming social and economic challenges.
- Preserving weaving traditions — recognises women’s role in transmitting traditional handloom skills and knowledge across generations.
- Anthology release — an anthology documenting the stories, journeys and voices of participating women weavers.
Why Women Weavers
The handloom sector is the largest cottage industry in India and the second largest source of rural employment after agriculture. Its defining demographic fact is that roughly 70% of handloom workers are women — the highest female participation of any Indian industry.
Background: The Handloom Sector
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| National Handloom Day | 7 August, marking the launch of the Swadeshi Movement in 1905 |
| Employment | Around 35 lakh handloom workers, roughly 70% women |
| Nodal Ministry | Ministry of Textiles (Office of the Development Commissioner for Handlooms) |
Key schemes
- National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP) — cluster development, marketing, credit and skill support.
- Raw Material Supply Scheme — subsidised yarn.
- Handloom Weavers’ Comprehensive Welfare Scheme — insurance cover.
- India Handloom Brand and the Handloom Mark — quality and authenticity certification.
- Handloom Reservation Act, 1985 — reserves specified articles for exclusive production on handlooms.
- Shilp Didi programme for women artisans; Samarth for skilling in textiles.
