Historical Decline: The textile industry has been in decline since the 19th century, with significant exacerbation following economic liberalization policies.
Rising Costs: Increased costs of raw materials have made handloom weaving an expensive endeavor.
Market Competition: The availability of cheap, manufactured textiles has severely impacted traditional weavers in regions like Pochampalli, Gadwal, Narayanpet, and Siricilla.
Financial Strain: Weavers facing financial burdens from loans for raw materials and living expenses, leading to a high incidence of suicides, particularly noted in Siricilla, now referred to as ‘Uricilla’.
Origin of Handloom Weaving in Sircilla:
Initiated around 1920 when locals learned weaving in Sholapur, Maharashtra.
Became a primary livelihood in the absence of agricultural employment.
Expanded to about 50 villages around Sircilla with strong trade links to Mumbai.
Shift to Powerlooms:
Shift began in the 1970s in Maharashtra, impacting traditional handlooms.
Powerlooms produced cheaper and faster textiles, leading to initial economic improvements but eventual decline for handloom weavers.
A group pooled resources to buy 3000 powerlooms, affecting the traditional weaving practices.
Introduction of Beedi Industry:
Accompanied the textile changes, with beedi rolling introduced from Maharashtra.
Economic pressures forced men to work in powerlooms and women in beedi rolling due to wage demands.
Expansion of Powerlooms:
By 1900, approximately 800 workers owned 10,000 to 12,000 powerlooms, providing jobs for about 15,000 workers.
Government and Economic Policies:
Adverse policies such as subsidy removals, influenced by World Bank directives, and increases in cess charges, cotton exports, and electricity costs contributed to the crisis.
Resulted in numerous suicides among Sircilla workers.
Inadequate governmental support at both the state and central levels to sustain the industry or provide necessary compensation.
