Implementing Agency


Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India
Dist. Gandhinagar
Gujarat

Implementing Agency

About Chanderi Cluster :

Chanderi is one of the best-known handloom clusters in India, particularly famous for its sarees, made with mix of silk and cotton. But if we look at its history, Chanderi has been adapting itself as per needs. Saree is the product of second half of twentieth century only. Then, there have been changes in the methodologies, equipments and even the compositions of yarns in past. The heritage is attached with the skills of weaving high quality fabric products here. The weavers are actually the symbol of the heritage, as they have been the ones, who produced the kinds of stuff that received appreciation even from the royals.

Unlike past, in modern time of changes in lifestyle, Chanderi tends to stick with what it has been doing for decades now. It is because of the inability of those, who lead the decision-making about the product, to adapt as per the changes. Their ability has partly been affected by lack of patronage it used to have in past. Till independence royal families of Gwalior provided the required patronage. After that, state and central government supported the cluster through purchases of the goods and subsidies. But that support has slowly reduced to bare minimum and the cluster is on the decline now.

Realizing the difficulties well in advance, the resourceful traders/master weavers have generated several options for themselves. They have invested in alternative business activities for a possible shift in future. But unfortunately, the ‘symbol of heritage’- weavers, are the most vulnerable unit on the scene, having no options, weavers are facing increasingly difficult time.

About Gwalior Cluster :

Gwalior is an historical place of Madhya Pradesh. It is well connected with all the major cities of India by Road, Train and also with Air. The Gwalior Trade Fair takes place every year in the month of December-January. The Tomars, Marwahs and Marathas ruled the Gwalior city.

There are mainly two types of activities in handloom sector in Gwalior

1. Carpet, Sofa set covers, Bike seat covers, Floor mats, Doormats manufactured from the wastage/Salvage of Dornier Power looms popularly known as Dornier Dari/ Fur Carpet.

2. Cotton Cloth, polyester Cloth, Bandage Cloth, Woolen items manufactured mainly for Govt. Supply.

Around 600-650 looms are engaged in producing these products.

Although no Documentary evidence is available for the historical evolution of Dornier carpet but discussion with existing manufacturers, Traders, Raw material suppliers, Buyers reveals that it was started only 25 years back by some cloth merchants who brought weavers from Ranipur and raw material which is the waste fabric of power looms.

The core cluster actor consists of Traders, Master weavers, weavers, warpers and Yarn supplier. The weavers engaged in Dornier carpet weaving are getting employment for 200-250 days and earning wages Rs.75-90/- per day and in other category of govt. supply they are getting Rs.100-120/-per day but for 100-120 days in a year.

The main raw material is Waste from the Power Looms especially Dornier & Rapier types. 60% of the total business right form input procurement to out put sale is controlled by a single master weaver. As far as analysis of grey cloth making is concerned the raw material is supplied by MP Handloom & Handicraft Development Corporation through NHDC to cooperative societies and takes the finished grey cloth from them at the price fixed by Govt. of M.P. in nut shell this segment is dependent entirely upon Govt. supply and hence the weavers are getting employment for 100-120 days as against the 200-250 days for the weavers engaged in dornier carpet weaving.