Power-loom weaving in northern Karnataka: Problems and Prospects

The Handloom sector plays a very important role in India’s economy. It is a part of our culture and heritage and one of the largest economic activities after agriculture. Khana are the choli or blouse material with extra warp dobby figures, which are the traditional products of northern Karnataka. The traditional Guledgudda Khana (Choli or Blouse, elsewhere called Khana), which is only one traditional cluster making blouse fabric in India. Earlier it was woven on pit loom having no warp beam using silk warp and cotton weft but due to the availability, time consumption and higher production rate powerlooms are preferred by most of the weavers, but dimension of the material remains same. In this study we have analyzed the socio-economic status and different problems faced by the Guledgudda Khana weavers of north Karnataka. The information was collected through personal interviewing thirty Khana weavers from north Karnataka. The study revealed that the weavers are facing lot of problems like related to health, marketing problem, financial constraints and as well as merchandising problems due to age, illiteracy and low income