VARANASI: While announcing a handsome package of Rs 6,234 crore for handloom sector on November 19, 2011, Union minister for commerce and textiles Anand Sharma had also promised some booty for the famous carpet belt of Mirzapur-Bhadohi. However, the supposed beneficiaries are still awaiting perks. "We have got nothing out of this announcement so far. In fact, all such announcements are just poll promises that are never kept," said a person associated with the All India Carpet Manufacturers Association (AICMA), Bhadohi.
According to the announcement made by Sharma, a sum of Rs 100 crore would be invested in the carpet industry. The work on mega handloom cluster for carpet in Mirzapur-Bhadohi, which was approved on May 9, 2011, should have begun within a month. It was to cover the training of 20,000 weavers, re-establishment/ up gradation of 20,000 looms, and loan facility of Rs 50 crore. The area spread in 5500 square km it would cover 75% of carpet export from India. The components of the announced package included skill development, assistance to weavers and entrepreneurs, common facility centre, market development, technology up gradation, design and product development, testing laboratory, participation in trade fairs.
Obviously like handloom sector of silk industry, the carpet industry of Bhadohi is also struggling with problems like shortage of skilled weavers and poor infrastructure. Promises are made during elections, but the situation remains the same.
It is believed that centuries ago, some Iranian master weavers stopped at Madhosingh village near Khamaria in Bhadohi while travelling in India. They established the first loom and manufactured the first carpet in India. Today, the Bhadohi-Mirzapur is the biggest carpet manufacturing hub of the country. The Bhadohi-Mirzapur carpet belt is known for its rich heritage in the field of handicraft and handlooms. This cottage-based industry is eco-friendly because the natural wool, silk and cotton are biodegradable. This carpet belt of UP supports the largest hand-loomed carpet industry of the world. The hand knotting gives the carpet its essential quality - its uniqueness with own designs and colour schemes.
According to the AICMA president Onkar Nath Mishra, the carpet industry of the country witnessed a decline in 2008-09 and is still recovering from the loss. Presently, India is exporting carpets worth of about Rs 4000 crore, including Rs 1700 crore from UP, to different countries. More than 20 lakh persons are engaged directly and indirectly in this industry. In UP, the carpet industry is spread over districts of Sant Ravidas Nagar Bhadohi, Mirzapur, Sonbhadra, Varanasi, Chandauli, Allahabad, Kaushambi, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Sitapur, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi and Agra. The carpet industry is entirely export-oriented and more than 95% of the production is exported.
According to the records of the Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC), the organisation established by the Ministry of Textiles of the Government of India to promote the export of hand-knotted rugs and all other types and styles of floor coverings from India, the export of carpet declined from Rs 3,674.86 crore in 2006-07 to Rs 2,708.73 crore in 2008-09.
The handmade carpet of Bhadohi was granted the Geographical Indication (GI) in September 2010. With this certification, the handmade carpet manufactured in the nine districts of the region including Bhadohi, Mirzapur, Varanasi, Ghazipur, Sonbhadra, Kaushambi, Allahabad, Jaunpur and Chandauli would be tagged with 'handmade carpet of Bhadohi'. According to carpet exporter Ashok Kapoor, the carpet industry is growing with increased volume of export at national level, but this region is still lacking proper growth.
According to a report of the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) on the floor-covering cluster of Bhadohi, the availability of trained craftsmen in weaving, finishing process is very limited leading to low productivity and high wastage. The Bhadohi floor covering cluster is concentrated in Bhadohi and Mirzapur districts.
The main products of the cluster included knotted carpets (60%), tufted carpets (25%), shaggy carpets (10%) and durries (5%). While the demand for knotted and tufted carpets is declining, the demand for shaggy and synthetic carpets is showing increasing trend due to change in customer tastes and affordability.
India is the major exporter of knotted carpets followed by Iran and together they contribute 50% of the global knotted carpet production. However there is five per cent reduction in global exports from 2004 to 2009 due to competition from synthetic carpets, economic recession and changing market trends.
Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com