CHALLENGES FACE BY HANDLOOM WEAVERS (MANMUNAI SOUTH ERUVIL PATRU DS DIVISION)

Abstract

Basic needs of the human being are the food, clothes, and shelter. Among this needs, cloth is important. This need is fulfilled by the handloom industry. The history of handloom weaving in Sri Lanka extends over 2500 years. Handloom sector in Sri Lanka is the most ancient cottage industry. The Handloom sector is a rural based cottage industry, and plays important role in improving economic conditions of rural weavers. In handloom, there are many problems face by handloom weavers. This handloom sector is facing many problems related to finance, procurement, production, human resource problems. Without solving the problems of handloom weavers and sector, the improvement of the handloom sector is not achievable. Hence the present study is an effort to understand the various problems of handloom weavers. In addition to this, the researcher identifies the level of these challenges. So far lack of research has been carried out in Sri Lanka to identify the challenges of handloom weavers. In doing so, a survey is administered to 149 handloom weavers who are working in Manmunai South Eruvil Patru D. S Division in Batticaloa District. The present study adopted the quantitative methodology. The data required for the present study is collected from primary and secondary sources. The study is descriptive in nature. Researcher found that handloom weavers face finance related challenges, procurement challenges, production challenges and human resource challenges. Further the study revealed that handloom weavers face high level of finance, procurement, production, human resource challenges. The findings of the study offer guidance to reduce the challenges of handloom weavers and improve the handloom sector.