Weavers suffer as industry under strain
THE iconic carpet industry of Kashmir is facing a sharp decline, forcing most weavers to take up odd jobs to earn a income.
At Gada-khud village in Bandipore, 30km from Srinagar, the majority of the 400 households were carpet weavers. But with most handlooms shut, the weavers have taken up menial jobs.
The weavers said demonitisation, abrogation of Article 370 and the economic downturn due to the ongoing pandemic has dealt a big blow to Kashmir’s multi-crore carpet industry.
For years Nazir Ahmad, with five of his family members, had been weaving carpets at a handloom in their house. But with hardly any buyers during the last year, they have stopped making carpets.
“We are facing major losses and are not able to earn anything. We haven’t made a single carpet in the last year,” said Ahmad. “We don’t get good rates for carpets so we have stopped making carpets.”
The acute financial crisis has forced Ahmad’s son Mohammad Hussain to move to Srinagar to work as a labourer.
“There is no other option for me. I earn 400 ruppees (R88) daily as a labourer, which is barely enough to meet the expenses of the family,” said Hussain.
According to estimates, 100 000 people were associated with carpet making in Kashmir.
“The Covid-19-induced lockdown, following the abrogation of Article 370, caused a sharp decline in the number of tourists coming to Kashmir, which also impacted the carpet business,” said Ghulam Mohammad, a carpet trader.
“The exporters are telling us there are no buyers for carpets. But we are hoping things will improve.”