Chennai, July 30
Kanchipuram, a renowned pilgrimage centre in Tamil Nadu and widely known for its array of handloom products, is anticipating good outcomes from the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed between India and the United Kingdom.
The town, home to about a thousand temples, boasts more than 6,000 handloom weavers, who are mostly centred in areas like Pillayar Palayam and Ayyampettai.
These weavers sell their sarees to private companies and cooperative institutions. However, the rise of ‘power-loom sarees’ being sold as Kanchi silk sarees has negatively impacted the livelihood of genuine Kanchi silk saree weavers.
The recent surge in gold and silver prices further heightened their woes and resulted in decreased sales, affecting the weavers' income. The weavers are now demanding that the government control the prices of gold and silver to alleviate their struggles.
Amid the challenges, the India-UK agreement has come as respite for them as they expect it to boost silk production and provide more opportunities to weavers. The agreement could help increase production and exports, benefiting the local weavers.
According to Mohan, a local silk saree producer, this agreement is a welcome development, and this could help the industry grow.
Overall, the Kanchipuram silk industry requires support to overcome these challenges and capitalise on opportunities like the India-UK FTA agreement.
The FTA, also known as the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), is expected to significantly enhance jewellery exports from India, said reports citing experts.
Notably, the FTA was signed to give impetus to economic ties between the two nations. The agreement aims to boost trade by reducing tariffs, streamlining customs processes, and enhancing collaboration across various sectors.
— IANS
Reader Comments
While FTAs sound good on paper, I'm skeptical. Last time with Japan, small businesses didn't benefit much. Government should first crack down on fake Kanchipuram sarees flooding the market. That's the real problem hurting weavers!
As someone who loves Indian textiles, I always look for authentic Kanchipuram silks in London. This FTA might make them more accessible here! The intricate craftsmanship deserves global recognition. Hope the price remains reasonable though.
The gold price issue is real! My aunt is a weaver in Kanchipuram - the zari work has become so expensive that middle-class families can't afford these sarees anymore. Government should provide subsidies on gold thread for authentic weavers.
Instead of just focusing on exports, we need to promote Kanchipuram silk within India too. Many young Indians don't appreciate our textile heritage. Schools should organize visits to these weaving clusters - janata ko jaan na chahiye apne karigaron ke bare mein!
Good initiative but implementation is key. We've seen how middlemen eat up most profits in such schemes. Need direct benefit transfer to weavers plus strict quality control to maintain Kanchipuram silk's premium reputation worldwide.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.