The Swadeshi movement, which was all about opposing foreign-made goods as well as supporting Indian-made goods, began on August 7 in Bengal back in the year 1905, the very day National Handloom Day is observed in India.
In 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared the very first National Handloom Day to honour weavers and develop handcrafted and handwoven goods. The day, which is observed yearly on August 7, also promotes the handloom sector. It also emphasises the significance of handloom to the nation’s inclusive growth and increasing weavers’ earnings.
History of National Handloom Day:
The Union administration introduced 7 August 2015 as National Handloom Day in order to raise awareness of the importance of the weaving industry. Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared the first National Handloom Day on August 7, 2015, at Madras University’s Centennial Assembly in Chennai.
The 7th of August was designated as National Handloom Day to honour the Swadeshi Movement. The Swadeshi Movement was founded on August 7, 1905, in the Calcutta Town Hall, to oppose the British administration’s division of Bengal. The protest’s goal was also to revitalise household products and manufacturing techniques.
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The importance of National Handloom Weavers Day:
National Handloom Day is observed to commemorate the country’s rich heritage and traditions. Handloom serves as one of the most significant earnings sources for women in India, in addition, it is crucial to celebrate and respect the nation’s handloom workers.
The government has also placed in place a variety of initiatives to assist the weavers’ community, including the National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP), and the Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS), as well as the Yarn Supply Scheme (YSS).
India is both the world’s biggest consumer as well as the world’s second-largest supplier of cotton. India is the world’s second-largest producer of handloom items, the national garment sector supports 5% of India’s overall GDP, plus textile and clothing exports are expected to reach $65 billion soon.
How can you support the weavers this National Handloom Weavers Day?
Try to buy products directly
Numerous latest generation weavers sell their wares through social media platforms, blogs, WhatsApp, and even phone call services. Purchasing directly ensures that your payment is acquired by the weavers as well as their families rather than being taken by master weavers or merchants. Going through Indian handloom-associated hashtags on Instagram is a good place to start when looking for weaver profiles. While purchasing your things, you could also consider agreeing to pay for the shipping.
Donate to support the weavers when you can
The weavers require immediate assistance with food, healthcare, and instructional necessities. Help by providing products directly or by donating to campaigns through sites like Milaap and many other platforms. Countless entities are seeking funding, so join up and help. You can transfer cash and/or share it along with your connections.
Help them by paying in advance
You can assist the business by pre-reserving your Festive season and Celebrations sarees provided that there are quantities of the items and the weavers urgently require the money. You can pay ahead of time and have your things supplied throughout the holidays. If you know you’ll be buying for a wedding soon, why not purchase something right now that could provide a significant contribution? You could possibly be able to order some unique things manufactured this way.
Find organisations working directly with weavers
Bunavat and Rehwa Society are two organisations which obtain their various products from weavers. They ensure that the payment gets to the weavers rather than the middlemen. Find organisations that care about weaver wellbeing and emphasise the importance of purchasing from them.
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