Once a source of livelihood for thousands of skilled artisans, Kerala’s handloom sector is now struggling to survive. Rising raw material costs, low wages, and competition from powerloom products have created an environment where the younger generation is reluctant to continue the tradition.

Sukumaran Nair, a weaver with over 30 years of experience, highlighted the challenge of attracting youth to the profession. “If one leaves this field, they can easily find another job that pays at least Rs 1,000 a day. Most young people do not consider handloom weaving dignified, and wages of around Rs 500 a day are insufficient for daily expenses. Proper government support could change this,” he said.

Government initiatives have provided some relief. A few years ago, Kerala introduced a scheme requiring schools to procure uniforms from handloom weavers, offering steady work to those remaining in the profession. Santhosh, Secretary of the Jaikish Handloom Weavers Cooperative Society, suggested that similar measures at the central government level could benefit the sector. “If the central government also adopts handloom uniforms for its employees, it will undoubtedly boost the industry,” he said.

Longtime weavers also cite low wages as a primary deterrent. Sugathakumari, who has woven sarees, mundu, and school uniforms for 46 years, said, “Currently, we are paid only for the work we do. There are no additional benefits. If we do not weave for a day, we do not receive wages. Additional support is essential to retain and attract talent.”

Sandhya, another artisan, echoed the sentiment, highlighting the declining interest in handloom as a profession. “Most people are leaving this field. The biggest issue is wages. If they increase, more people will return,” she said.

Entrepreneurs like Aravind, owner of Ambika Handloom, point to rising costs of raw materials, especially kasavu thread, and decreasing demand for handloom products due to powerloom competition. “The price of kasavu fluctuates with gold, and sourcing materials has become costlier. At the same time, customers are fewer, which reduces demand. Unless the Central Government provides financial support, weaving will continue to be viewed as a low-prestige profession,” he added.

The Kerala Handloom Weavers’ Cooperative Society (HANTEX), which oversees 523 registered societies, reports that many cooperatives are now defunct. Dr. K S Kripakumar, Managing Director of HANTEX, said, “The main issue is that young people are unwilling to enter this physically demanding sector due to low wages.”

Despite these challenges, stakeholders remain hopeful that the upcoming budget will introduce measures to revive Kerala’s handloom industry, strengthen artisans’ livelihoods, and attract the next generation to this age-old craft.