Integrated Handloom Development Scheme - Maheshwar, Saunsar & Chhindwara (Madhya Pradesh)

WWHI is working at empowering weavers through handlooms in a Handloom Development project supported by the Ministry of Textiles, Govt. Of India, amongst the Weaver Cluster in Saunsar, in Chindwara district of Madhya Pradesh.

Saunsar has been famous for its rich hand weaving tradition and the distinctive style of its cotton saris. About a quarter century back, because of competiion from other handloom centres and other sociological reasons, the craft fell into a state of neglect in the region. Weavers left their traditional work and went to seek livelihoods through, vending, supari breaking at construction sites etc.which, eroded their dignity and skills. WWHI supported by The Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India is now working at strategic design intervention and hand holding in the areas, as would be necessary for further development of this age-old Craft under the Integrated Handloom Development Scheme.

A multi-pronged approach is being adopted in order to facilitate the capacity building of weavers, particularly the women, who form an integral part of the weaving process. Women SHGs (Self Help Groups) are being trained on management & business skills and also on micro enterprise and savings to encourage sustainable work. Sensibilities of traditional skills will be used as the elements of design vocabulary for the new collections in order to give a definite value. Such skills & techniques will be identified appropriately to match the available resources and emerging consumer aspirations & demands. Ethical Fashion an inherent idiom of the project is promoted via intervention in rural areas and backward communities; usage of environmentally friendly hand woven natural products and by encouraging entrepreneurship, particularly amongst the women.