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| Winters almost over, Handloom deptt sells winter items in Expo-2015 | | | Akshay Azad
Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 18: With winter season nearing its culmination, 'Fifteen days' Handloom Expo-2015 "Dast-E-Hunnar" by Jammu and Kashmir Handloom Department at Dusshera Ground Gandhi Nagar is pathetically ill timed and reflects poorly upon the foresight and objectivity of the officers of concerned department.
Artisans who are part of Handloom Expo-2015 strongly criticized the department for the timing of organizing the Expo. "Today, due to cloudy weather, mercury has plunged a little , but in Jammu, during afternoon, it feels like summers. We all artisans have woolen items to sell, including shawls, blankets, woolen clothes and other woolen wear. Why customers will purchase woolen items, when summer season is approaching and they will rather prefer purchasing summer clothes", one of the artisans said. He pleaded not to be named saying that they have to take 10 percent rebate on their sale from government. "If we openly criticize the department, the officials of Handloom department may create problems during release of rebate for the person, whose name will come in media", he said.
The artisans further said that majority of branded company showrooms have been offering discounts to the tune of 50 percent of Maximum Retail Prize (MRP). "Why a customer will prefer to purchase our items, if same item of branded company is available in market and that too at cheaper price", they said.
They opined that the timing of organizing the Handloom Expo 2015, should have been in the beginning of winter season. "During October-November, the people need winter wears and during that period there is no sale or discount on company items. If the Expo would have been organized at that time, our sale of items would have seen a drastic change and it will be beneficial for us", they said.
Another artisan said, "We make items by hand and with minimum use of machines. It takes nearly three days to complete a blanket. The cost of one blanket is Rs. 600 but customers avoid purchasing same as the machine made blankets available in markets in same prize and that blankets are also fine in quality and finishing", he said.
He further said, "One day wage is Rs. 300 in open market and in three days, one can earn Rs. 900 but our three days labour cost only Rs. 600 and we are in loss in making blankets also.", adding the department had to create awareness but the efforts of department were half hearted and it was just for show off. Castigating the approach of department, the artisans said that funds to the tune of several lakhs would be spent on the Expo but there was no concrete policy to rejuvenate the artisans and the handloom sector, which has been dying a slow death, while the officials have been watching helplessly, or might have unbothered about it. |
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