Role of handloom sector in India

        The handloom sector plays a pivotal role in the country's economy. It is one of the largest economic activities next to agriculture. This sector, with about 35 lakh looms, at present provides employment to 65 lakh persons, the traditional handloom weaving in India has been kept alive by

those professionally skilled household weavers, which inextricably is linked with the age-old tradition of weaving. Nevertheless, in India, handloom industry is an ancient cottage industry

spread all over the country. This is a source of livelihood for the millions directly or indirectly. Its role is quite significant in meeting the clothing requirements of the masses. It occupies a pivotal place with its wide ramification into the socio-economic fabric of society. The hand-woven textiles have a long glorious tradition. They are symbolic of Indian culture forming part of great

heritage of art, Centuries ago when Europe, the birthplace of today's modern capitalism and industry, had little industrial development to boast of India was famous for its grand artistic skills

of her craftsmen. The Indian cotton fabrics enjoyed worldwide patronage especially in Eastern and European markets in the world.

The sector is beset with various problems, such as obsolete technology, haphazard production system, low productivity, inadequate working capital, conventional product range, weak marketing links, overall stagnation of production and sales and above all, competition from power

looms and mill sector. There is no doubt that India's textiles constitute one of the sumptus sources of textile designs in the world, drawn upon increasingly by textile designers, product designers and fashion designers from all nationalities. Many of these designs are in easy global access from books, muscum collections, the web and commodities. The textile industry occupies a unique place in the economy of India by virtue of its contribution to the industrial output,employment generation and foreign exchange earnings. The Indian textile industry contributes about one-fifth of total industrial production, nearly one-third of total exports and provides oodles of employment to 20 millions of people.

          In history, there are evidences to show that the Indians have known the art of weaving for more than five thousand years. The fact that the Egyptian mummies of five thousand years old were

found wrapped in Indian fine silks and Muslins. This proves the high artistic skills of Indian weavers in the past. India has been a producer of cotton cloth of superior quality and repute from times immemorial and generally regarded as the birthplace of cotton manufacturers. The gossamer like silks of Varanasi, fine Muslins of Dacca and other hand-woven fabrics of Assam, Baroda, Kanchipuram and Manipur have heen famous for ages. Unsurpassed for their artistic craftsman ship and superb workmanship, they have freshness, vitality and charm and highly

praised all over the world. The handloom witnessed a significant progress after the country attained independence.