Initiative:

Development of integrated handloom clusters

Beneficiaries:

700 handloom weavers in Haridwar district, Uttarakhand

The Challenge:

• Seasonal work since many weavers had no looms
• Ineffectual utilisation of skills
• Traditional methods of weaving
• Lack of economies of scale, resulting in poor margins

The Solution:

• A handloom development cluster was developed with the help of Women Development Organisation and Government of Uttarakhand
• Weavers formed into groups and registered as a cooperative society
• Product diversification
• Yarn bank set up to procure quality yarn at wholesale rates

The Impact:

• Revival of handloom activity
• Mutual understanding and coordination among weavers
• Enhanced quality of products
• Improved livelihood standards and better prospects