Natural fibre weavers of Anakaputhur in distress

CHENNAI: The cackle of spindles churning out clothes of natural yarn, which used to reverberate from nearly 20 streets of Anakaputhur, has already become muted and could soon die out unless the state steps in with suppor for the families involved in the preofession, say weavers.
Natural Fibre Weavers Assn president C Sekar said handloom units in Anakaputhur, in Chennai's western suburbs, were now confined to just two streets.
Dwindling income, the devastating floods of December 2015 that caused colossal damage and little support from the government pushed many traditional weavers to take to house painting, construction work and other menial jobs, he said.
The area which was once home to 300 families dependent on handloom weaving now has very few in the profession, he said.
Three years ago, the Kancheepuram district authorities, urged by the state planning commission, planned a 65 lakh common facility centre for Anakaputhur's weavers and even identified a plot but little had been done, said Sekar.
Saris and other dress material made of natural yarn continue to be in demand, he said. "The state government should support us by setting up the centre, as many people are refusing to rent their homes to weavers who have to dig up the ground to set up looms."
At present, weavers in Anakaputhur extract yarn from 25 natural sources including banana and pineapple, he said.
In 2015, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was presented with a shawl woven with 25 natural fibres, though made elsewhere, the Anakaputhur weavers thought another golden period was dawning. It was not to be.
The central government has launched several schemes for handloom weavers, but, many of these are yet to be implemented by the state. "If the state government provides the required support, the weavers will sustain themselves with the eco-friendly natural fibre dresses," said Sekar.