India is home to many crafts of which weaving is a major one. While its true that women have been actively involved in the different stages of weaving for centuries, there are far more opportunities for them today than ever was in the past. In this brief article, we discuss how weaving of saris in handlooms is playing a major role in employing women in the rural areas.
Financial independence
Weaving today can earn a skilled weaver a very respectable income. A weaver in Kanjivaram, for example, can earn as much as Rs 12,000 per sari. In rural households, this additional income from the woman's side can go a long way in helping them meet their financial needs.
Preservation of techniques
Weaving is an ancient art and it is in the interest of all of us that it be preserved through the generations. This is an additional advantage of having women directly employed in this sector. It will make sure that the skills required for weaving are passed down out to future generations and not lost.
Social empowerment
Being employed in the weaving sector imparts a certain status to the women. It improves their social standing as well as gives them as sense of belonging to a community of skilled weavers.
Preservation of cultural heritage
Weaving is an important artform and a part of India's cultural heritage and the women employed in this sector play a critical role in preserving this heritage.
Use of weaving assists such as compressors
The main reason why women weren't directly employed in the weaving sector was due to the physical demand associated with the process of weaving a saree. Today, there are numerous techniques being employed to reduce the strain on weavers such as pneumatics. While the saree is still strictly hand-woven, it is done so without the need for a great deal of physical exertion.