Machines a threat to Bodo weavers

Kokrajhar, July 16: Machine-woven 'gamochas' from Tamil Nadu, flooding Asom markets, are posing a threat to the Bodo women weavers.

Weaving was promoted to empower the Bodo women economically in the Bodol and Territorial Council (BTC) governed areas.

Organised weaving cooperatives and societies were set up for the benefit of the women weavers.

Local people alleged that easy availability of cheap machine-made duplicates of the hand-woven Bodo traditional garments had decreased the demand of authentic items. These machine-made products were mostly supplied from Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

The Bodol and Association of Handloom Unit (BAHU), an organisation formed to promote the local weavers, had called for a social boycott of machine-made garments in order to check the threat to cultural and economic exploitation of the skills of the Bodo women in weaving specific traditional items like Dhokna, Aronai, Zomgra etc.

President of the BAHU Maloti Narzary informed that as many as 100 weavers organised weaving units and cooperatives, with an average set up of minimum 10 looms and maximum 100 looms, were founded in Kokrajhar town alone to provide livelihood to 2000 Bodo women.

''However, even as these nascent establishments had been capturing satisfactory market with genuine local traditional products, 10 were closed due to influx of products from outside the state,'' she said.

Ms Narzary pointed out that every Bodo household had at least one loom, used for domestic weaving purposes as well as to generate additional income in lower and middle class families. She said, ''We want to evolve this traditional system by a systematic approach to a village-level cottage industry for women empowerment based on traditional tribal skills.'' Ms Narzary informed that the local fabrics were being sent abroad for the twin purposes of financial gain and recognition of cultural values of the Bodo society.

She further said, ''Apart from getting a global market, the Bodo traditional designs, handloom quality and special skills on the rearing and use of cocoons of 'Endi' had created tremendous attraction amongst visitors and traders of national and international repute as seen in several fares and exhibitions.'' She lamented the reckless exploitation by outside merchants for their financial gain and said it was a big concern for the Bodo society.

''It is not only a threat to the marginally paid Bodo women weavers causing a threat by duplicating the whole process,'' Ms Narzary added.

The BAHU president informed that they would approach the government for a legislation to prevent exploitation of traditional and cultural resources and its preservation in the greater interest of the Bodo society at large.

UNI