Arni is no less a handloom weavers’ hub than Kanchee-puram. While Kanchi has gone on to carve a niche for itself in the fashion world, Arni, a constituency in Tiruvannamalai district, faces an existential crisis of sorts triggered by unregulated silk price and vagaries of market. At a time when the ‘Kanchivaram Pattu’ sarees are a prized possession in the wardrobe of discerning ladies, the weavers in Arni look askance, even as they claim to have played a role in the success story.
Steeped in tradition, the 70,000 weavers in Arni discarded powerlooms to churn out silk sarees by hands. While connoisseurs swear by the craftsmanship of Kancheepuram weavers, who unspool pure mulberry silk threads to turn an ordinary piece of cloth into a specimen of intricate ornateness, Arni weavers claim that most of the sarees that Kanchi markets come from the hundreds of handlooms in this constituency.
Volatile market and surge in silk price put paid to the dreams of many weavers of making it big, says G A Ganeshan, a silk saree seller. “Till a few years ago, there were over a lakh weavers in Arni, but vagaries of market and fluctuation in price dented the margin, leading to migration in search of greener pastures,” he adds. Regulation of silk price and opening of a Silk Park to showcase the skills of the local weavers have been a long-pending demand. While the weavers have taken a hit, the over 100 textile agents rake in the moolah, exporting local quality products. It’s not the poor incentives alone that miff the weavers, says Ganeshan. “Price regulation of silk threads would ensure a steady income for the weavers, but nothing has been done. Moreover, the town grapples with poor civic facilities. Roads are in a bad shape and water water supply is erratic. There is no direct rail connectivity and a chunk of the population is unemployed,” he adds.
When queried, a resident said, “I would vote for any candidate who ensures sewers are cleaned periodically. The civic bodies need more hands to ensure clean roads.”
Another area Arni aces in is paddy cultivation. The December rains that devastated the State capital proved to be a boon for the cultivators here, as the yield went up by notches. “It’s true that we got a good yield, but farmers could not cash in as the government reduced the procurement price. Though the government reduces price of rice and milk for the benefit of the common man, it is the farmers who suffer,” says a cultivator.
Seated outside a rice mill is J Pichaiyah, an ex-army officer who turned a farmer 10 years ago. “Agriculture is the backbone of our country. The farmers don’t want any freebies. The laptops and other gadgets they give is of no use without electricity. These freebies come out of the tax payers’ pocket. What we seek is reduced bus fares and subsidised electricity. This election, we seek what we deserve,” he says.
Durai Pandian, who has been working as a weaver for the past five years, says, “I plan to vote for the candidate who will provide free electricity and end power cuts. Some parties have promised us 500 units of free power.”
Others’ Benefit is Farmers’ Loss
Another area Arni aces in is paddy cultivation. The December rains that devastated the State capital proved to be a boon for the cultivators here, as the yield went up by notches. “It’s true that we got a good yield, but farmers could not cash in as the government reduced the procurement price. Though the government reduces price of rice and milk for the benefit of the common man, it is the farmers who suffer,” says a cultivator. Seated outside a rice mill is J Pichaiyah, an ex-army officer who turned a farmer 10 years ago. “The farmers don’t want any freebies...What we seek is reduced bus fares and subsidised electricity,” he says.
[[I plan to vote for the candidate who will provide free electricity and end power cuts. Some parties have promised us 500 units of free power — Durai pandian, A weaver
[[There were over a lakh weavers, but vagaries of market and fluctuation in price dented the margin, leading to migration in search of greener pastures — G A Ganeshan, A silk saree seller