Paravur: The floods have dealt a body blow to the handloom sector in Kerala. Trade associations in the Paravur taluk of Ernakulam district claimed the yarn bank and weavers have been left poorer by Rs 15 crore. New products the handloom units had made considering the Onam season were damaged in the flood. Onam is often the best season for substantial sales for the handloom sector.
Three of the five handloom units in the taluk have been completely destroyed in the flood fury. Even the well-known Chendamangalam Kaithari (handloom) is in a shambles. The handloom units at Karimbadam and Kuryappilli areas have suffered major damages. Flood waters had entered all the units, destroying products worth lakhs of rupees, weaving equipment, furniture and thread. Thread worth Rs 50 lakh was damaged in the godown of the yarn bank at Karimbadam.
Weaving has come to a complete standstill. Several women had set up looms in their homes for weaving and for some, it was their only livelihood. As floodwaters rendered these looms unusable, the only income source of several households have been hit.
The units had also made uniforms under the government's school uniform project. The project launched by the government to protect the handloom sector had given a new lease of life to the sector. Many workers who had left traditional weaving had come back to the sector. Under the project, workers who were earlier getting only Rs 150 started getting Rs 600 as daily wages. As pay and orders increased, the handloom units too took interest in the project and the government supported by providing them raw materials and buying their products. With rising demand, the handloom units had pumped in money to make necessary changes required for the production of uniforms.
However, the unprecedented floods have left the units and its workers in the lurch. They demand that the government ensure the sector is not left high and dry and launch new projects for revival.
