1.NAME OF THE PROJECT: Project for the Development of Cotton Khadi in the state of West Bengal.
2.LOCATION: Birbhum, Malda, Murshidabad, Burdwan, Hooghly, Burdwan(E), Burdwan (W), 24 Paragnas (North), 24 Paragnas (South), Howrah, Paschim Medinipur, Purba Medinipur, Nadia, Dakshin Dinajpur & Uttar Dinajpur in the state of West Bengal.
3.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT: Khadi is an Indian Fabric. There are at present more or less 500 families having 2500 individual Artisans associated with in the arena of Cotton Khadi in the state of West Bengal. There are about 80 Khadi Institutions and Societies which are working for production of Cotton Khadi in our state. Mostly they are producing traditional items of White Khadi and conventional items of Cotton Khadi. At present, there is a huge demand of Cotton Khadi in the domestic and international market. Production of Khadi took an important role in Indian freedom movement to discourage the Indians from wearing foreign clothes. Cotton Khadi yarn production below 100s count is considered as Cotton Khadi which is also known as Khaddar. Cotton Khadi Fabric being hand spun and hand woven bears the feeling of unique nature which is very much comfortable to the consumers as it feels warm during winter and cool during summer, due to unique character of hand spun hand woven fabric over mill made fabric.
Cotton Khadi is eco-friendly which attracts the consumer to buy these products.
4.ISSUE & CHALLANGES AT A GLANCE:
- Lower market presence
- Low return
- Failure in capturing the present market trend
- Product diversification not happening
- Facing stiff competition with Power Loom Products as the cost of production in Khadi Sector is high.
- Absence of aggressive marketing
- Absence of wider publicity
- Low capital base
- Lack of availability Working Capital
- Poor livelihood of the Artisans
- New generation not feeling interested to join the Khadi Sector
- Low earning of the Artisans
- Absence of Modern Designs
- Value addition not explored
- Absence of appropriate technology
- Absence of Branding & Brand Building
- Non-availability of quality raw materials in sufficient quantity in time
- Poor infrastructures
- Lack of storage facility
- Lack of Quality Control & Testing Facility
- Irregular repair and maintenance lead to low productivity
- Absence of proper products mix for high moving & low moving item
5.LIVELIHOOD ISSUES:
- Absence of proper working ambiance in their dwelling place – Workshed Required
- Artisans literacy rate is low in the district of Malda & Murshidabad
- Drop outs percentage area in higher sides
- Some Artisans are not having regular health check-up
- Inadequate tap connection and supply for drinking water – Artisans prefer Tube Well
- Maximum of Artisans avail Kachcha Latrine Facility
- Artisans have health issues like pain in legs and hands, shoulder joint problem, spondylitis, vision problem and asthma.
- Artisan’s family suffer from dowry issues and sometimes their sons are rejected in marriage as they are engaged in weaving professions – reasons are low earning
6.POTENTIALS:
- Cotton Khadi is hand spun & hand woven fabric and it is eco-friendly.
- It has huge demand in domestic and international market
- Being air moves freely, it is suitable for hot and dry climates
- A large no. of people are ready to pay better price for their health and comfort
- Besides dress material, Cotton Khadi has potential market in the other consumer dressing material also
- There are large quantities of Human Resources who have love and faith for Khadi Fabric
- It has huge employment potential particularly for women to develop the rural economy
- Spinners and Weavers are almost in their household and the requirement of space is comparatively less than other industries
- Per capita investment towards plant and machinery for weavers and spinners are very low
7.COMPONENTS OF THE PROJECT:
8.Soft Intervention
9.Hard Intervention
10.Working Capital
SOFT INTERVENTION:
- Awareness programme
- Training for Spinning for Cotton Khadi
- Training for Pre-Loom Activity in the arena of Sizing, Warping and Beaming, Pirn Winding, Drafting and Denting, Preparation of Loom and setting up Jacquard for Cotton Khadi
- Training on Designing & Weaving for Cotton Khadi
- Training on Bleaching & Dyeing for Cotton Khadi
HARD INTERVENTION:
- Providing Machine to the Pre-Loom Artisans which has been developed by the Govt. College of Engineering & Textile Technology, Serampore from the project as sponsored by WBKVIB
- Providing Charkha for Cotton Khadi Spinners
- Providing Handloom with Jacquard, Dobby to the Cotton Khadi Weavers with a view to introduction of new design in the fabric
- Propose to setup Common Production Centre (CPC)
- Workshed for the Weavers for Cotton Khadi