Weavers from a tiny village in East Godavari district are posing a challenge to power looms. They are making a fabric, which cannot be made in any other mode, but the handloom. This comes at a time when power looms are affecting the livelihood of artisans who depend on the traditional looms.

A new cotton variety is the artistic blend of ‘Malmal’, ‘Khadi’, and ‘Malkha’, which has remained as a fashion statement for high society women from North India. About three years ago, Malkha known as ‘freedom fabric,’ was introduced to the members of the Pulugurtha Handloom Weavers Cooperative Production and Sale Society located about 30 km from Kakinada. Now, weavers are enjoying the benefits of the new variety that has a great demand in the market.

‘Malkha’ weavers from the village say weaving needs more attention compared to other handloom varieties. However, the returns are comparatively high and there is no dearth of work orders due to the demand, he adds. In 2012, Decentralised Cotton Yarn Trust (DCYT), based out of Hyderabad identified potential weavers from the village and trained them. The machinery for the yarn unit was provided by the government, who spent Rs. 93 lakh for it. The yarn-making unit has a capacity of 35 kg per day and at present it generates 10 kg of yarn every day.

Around 40 weaving families from Machavaram, Someswaram, Pulugurtha, and Kutukuluru have been depending on Malkha for their livelihood by converting their handlooms into Malkha looms and making 1,500 metres to 2,000 metres of fabric a week.