Artisans Forgotten: J&K Handloom weavers demand justice
Srinagar, Aug 7: While the rest of the country celebrated National Handloom Day with events lauding the role of weavers in shaping India’s rural economy and cultural fabric, handloom artisans in Jammu and Kashmir marked the occasion with silent protest and dismay.
The Jammu and Kashmir Handloom Weavers and Societies Association in a statement expressed strong resentment over what they described as the administration’s continued apathy toward the sector.
In a statement, the association criticised the Directorate of Handicrafts and Handloom for observing the day as a “mere formality,” claiming that commemorations have become more about bureaucratic optics and financial interest than about genuine recognition or support for weavers.
The discontent largely stems from the 2020 merger of the Handloom Department with the Handicrafts Department—a decision the association called undemocratic and taken without consultation with actual stakeholders. According to the weavers, this move stripped the sector of its distinct identity, eroded institutional support mechanisms, and plunged thousands of families into economic uncertainty.
They alleged that handloom welfare schemes, marketing avenues, and technical assistance have either been diluted or redirected, leaving the sector in a state of neglect. What was once a vibrant and independent tradition, they say, is now struggling for survival.
In protest, weavers across the Union Territory have gone on indefinite strike, suspending all work until their core demand—the restoration of an independent Handloom Department—is fulfilled. The association is also calling for the re-establishment of the Directorate of Handloom Development, inclusion of weaver representatives in policy-making, and comprehensive support for revival, skill building, and market access.
“Our weavers are not just skilled artisans; they are cultural custodians and contributors to the economy,” the statement said. “Their identity and livelihood cannot be merged into obscurity.”
