Implementing Agency

Textiles committee,Mumbai
Maharashtra

About Cluster :

Bijnore is a medium sized district located in north west UP in the eastern bank of Ganges river and adjoining to the southern part of Uttranchal state. The handloom weaving activity is found in around 32 villages and 6 small towns. Ninety nine percent (99%) of the weavers belong to Muslim Ansari community. 92 co-operative societies are registered in the cluster, but 22 co operative societies are working actively. Out of the existing 7000 handlooms approximately 3200 looms are working at present. The reason is that due to lack of regular orders, shade variation in dyeing on repeat order, good dyeing quality of exportable product (Poor colour fastness) unaware of marketing tactics, out dated design product and low productivity from April to September (Due to Acute shortage of Power). If given the right business opportunity to the weavers, all looms will come into working condition within no time like mushrooms after rainfall. The Bijnore district handloom cluster is wide in area and spread across a length of 60 km and breadth of 40 km. (60 km x 40 km). There are four major pockets in the cluster. The distance form one pocket to another pocket is far away and also in inline or area away from main road. The infrastructure in the cluster is also in bad condition. Power, Roads, and local Transport are key areas of poor infrastructure. About 20% of total production is being supplied to Delhi based exporters like Fabindia, All India Handloom board & other prominent exporter through middle man and the remaining are sold in the domestic market at Naogaon, Sadat, Nahtore, Sheohara and Kath.

Apart from the handlooms and handloom products mentioned above there are approximate equal number of frame looms, which are converted into power, operated looms to produced Gauze bandage Fabrics. The electricity required to run these converted power operated looms are generally stolen from street lines through hook wiring (Katiya). These power operated looms are also 60% less in operation due to acute power cut.