Wednesday, November 05, 2008 9:01:20 PM by ANI ( Leave a comment )
By Girish Kumar Dubey
Varanasi, Nov.5 (ANI): It appears the global meltdown being witnessed
prominently in the financial markets is all set to devastate the
famous Banarsi Saree industry, which is currently facing a tough time.
At one side the prepared saris are not getting sold off in abundance
like before, on the other side the export orders appears to face a
downward trend in near future.
The Silk industry, which was facing a tough time due to other factors,
is likely to face a major jolt in the days to come leading to literal
starvation of several people.
Be it handlooms or power looms both methods of preparing sarees are
threatened by crisis following the present situation in which the
people related to this industry are failing to get work even for whole
month. They just work for 15 days these days, which affects daily
wages of a lot of people here.
Exporters are also facing a tough time due to skewing demand for the
Banarasi Sarees
"Business of Banarsi sarees has come down due to economic recession
around the globe in many ways. Because all the fabrics made here are
luxury items. All those who purchase these are the ones who are rich,
either from India or from abroad. Among the most influenced are of the
same class. People, who buy the stuff eventually, are actually
influenced by this financial crisis. And therefore this influences
us," said Maqbool Hasan, a Banarsi saree Exporter.
In the recent past, Banarsi sarees have been among the most sought
after articles by women across the globe. The Banarsi fabric is an
essential material, traditionally used for bridal and party wear
clothes. .
Initially, Banarsi fabric used to be woven with real gold thread
called Zari. The artisans, who designed the floral motifs as well as
the full "pallu" of the sarees, cherished authority over intricate
designing as well as colour combinations.
But these artists are today afraid of facing perhaps the toughest
phase of their professional life. The suppliers are unable to meet the
demand due to rise in inflation rate.
It is also feared that if nothing is done on time for survival of the
artisans here, these already poverty-stricken people may have a real
impossible time to carry on in this work.
"The business is not doing well. We work for 15 days and there is no
work for another 15 days. Initially the labour was 500 rupees today,
it is only 400 rupees. The inflation has come up and we have only 15
days work," said Javed, Weaver.
Business of Banarsi sarees had already been facing crises for
different reasons for a few years and the recent global setback to
business centers proved a body blow to the industry here.
"The market is not responding well, and the conditions here are not
good. The prices of raw material are rising and material is not being
sold. Hence, people are turning to other businesses. The art is facing
threat of extinction," said Abdul Salam, a Banarasi Saree wholesaler.
The local artisans complain that though they length of the sarees has
increased by one metre of late, meaning almost double work, but their
wages have not increased a bit.
Today, the weavers and the artisans don"t get enough work. There were
times when they were remain heavily occupied for entire month. But
presently they dont have work beyond 15 days a month. (ANI)
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