Artisans Without Job Security
1. A restless night in a Telangana home
The moon hangs low over a Telangana village, pale and watchful. Red soil rests under a calm sky, neem leaves rustle softly, and somewhere far away a lone dog howls. Most houses are dark, but in one small home a dim bulb still glows.
A weaver sits at his loom long after others have slept. His back aches, his eyes burn, yet his hands keep moving. Beside him lies an empty notebook — a record of orders that may or may not come. His wife sleeps lightly in the next room, worrying about school fees, rent, and groceries.
In that quiet night, the loom hums like a heartbeat, but beneath it lies a heavy truth — tomorrow is uncertain. There is no fixed salary, no pension, no safety net.
These are artisans who create beauty for the world, yet live without job security.
2. How this craft grew with Telangana’s soul
Telangana handloom was never built by companies or contracts. It grew from the soil, from struggle, from resilience.
Centuries ago, when rains failed and crops dried, families turned to weaving so they could survive with dignity. What began as necessity slowly became art. Villages like Pochampally, Gadwal, and Narayanpet became famous for their bold colours, intricate patterns, and deep craftsmanship.
Every motif carried meaning — zigzags like flowing rivers, diamonds like village wells, deep reds like temple kumkum, bright yellows like harvested fields.
Handloom entered weddings, Bathukamma celebrations, temple rituals, and everyday life. It shaped Telangana’s identity like roots shaping a banyan tree — deep, steady, and alive.
But while the craft became iconic, the people behind it remained vulnerable.
3. The making — slow work with fast worries
The journey begins with simple threads washed under open skies.
Artisans boil dyes in big metal pots. Colours swirl like monsoon clouds — indigo like midnight rain, crimson like temple flags, mustard like ripe fields. The air smells of earth, dye, and patience.
Then comes the tying of thousands of tiny knots, each placed with care. One loose knot can ruin days of work. Silence fills the room as fingers move like prayer beads.
On the loom, threads stretch tight like neat farm bunds. The shuttle moves back and forth — thak… thak… thak. Sweat falls, eyes strain, backs ache.
Each inch takes time. But while the cloth grows slowly, bills arrive quickly. That is the burden artisans carry every day.
4. Lives of the craftsmen — pride without certainty
In Pochampally lives Ramesh, a third-generation weaver. His hands are rough, but his touch is gentle. He wakes before dawn, weaves all day, yet never knows if next month’s work will come.
He says softly, “We do not fear hard work. We fear empty days.”
In Gadwal lives Lakshmi, who polishes zari borders late into the night after cooking and caring for her children. Some weeks she earns enough, some weeks she earns almost nothing.
She smiles bravely and says, “We live on hope, not salaries.”
Their homes are small, their meals simple, but their dignity is strong. They work with pride, even when life gives them no guarantee.
5. Today’s struggles — talent without stability
Machine-made fabrics now flood the market at low prices. Real handloom cannot compete in speed or cost. Many buyers cannot tell the difference between handmade and factory-made cloth.
Middlemen take most of the profit, leaving artisans with little. Raw material costs keep rising. Some families struggle to pay school fees, rent, or medical bills.
Young people see this uncertainty and leave weaving villages for city jobs. Old looms sit silent in dusty corners.
The skill remains, but the security is missing.
6. Government help — hope, but not enough
The government has introduced handloom schemes, cooperatives, training centres, and welfare programs. Some artisans have received subsidies, better tools, or access to exhibitions and fairs.
For a few families, this has made life slightly easier.
But on the ground, reality is uneven. Paperwork is complex. Many artisans do not fully understand how to apply. Benefits reach some villages but miss others.
Support exists — but steady income, fixed wages, and long-term security are still rare. For many artisans, tomorrow is still uncertain.
Still, there is hope. Some young designers are collaborating with weavers. Digital platforms are slowly bringing visibility to their work. Change is happening, but very slowly — like the rhythm of the loom itself.
7. Why this craft matters today
In a fast world of plastic and instant fashion, handloom carries soul. It is sustainable, natural, and deeply human.
Every handwoven piece holds history, memory, and community. It keeps villages alive. It keeps traditions breathing.
But if artisans have no security, the craft itself is at risk. Protecting handloom means protecting the people behind it.
8. What customers feel when they wear it
When someone drapes a real handwoven saree, they feel warmth like sunlight on red soil.
They sense the hours of work, the silent nights, the careful hands behind the shine. They feel connected to weddings, temple bells, folk songs, and rainy village evenings.
The cloth becomes more than clothing. It becomes memory wrapped in grace.
But hidden beneath that beauty is the quiet struggle of the artisan who made it.
9. A gentle reminder
Next time you see handwoven fabric, remember this: behind every thread is a family that does not know what tomorrow holds.
Remember the hands that worked without contracts, without pensions, without guarantees — yet never stopped weaving.
Respect their effort. Value their craft beyond price.
Because in Telangana, artisans do not just weave cloth — they weave culture, identity, and hope, even when their own future remains uncertain.
To know more about this living heritage, visit:
https://zarizardosihyderabad.com
Related Craft Links (Explore & Learn)
https://cheriyalscrollpainting.com
https://ikathnalgonda.com
https://lacbanglescharminar.com
https://cottondurrieswarangal.com
https://bathikpaintingsiddipet.com
https://nirmaltoycrafts.com
https://handembriderynagaram.com
https://handembriderynizamabad.com
https://bobbinlacestationghanpur.com
https://banjaraembroiderytg.com
Telangana, the youngest state in India, is renowned for its rich cultural heritage, scenic beauty, and world-famous handicrafts. Its traditional arts include Cheriyal Paintings, Nirmal Toys, hand embroidery (Nagaram, Nizamabad), Bobbin Lace, Banjara Embroidery, Zari–Zardozi, cotton durries, lac bangles, Baithak paintings, Ikat, pearl jewellery, intricate stone carvings, and hand-printed cotton textiles, each deeply rooted in tradition and craftsmanship.
The Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS), under the Ministry of Textiles, aims to holistically develop handicraft clusters across India, including Telangana.
Supported by: The Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), the nodal agency for promoting and developing the Indian handicrafts sector, focused on artisan empowerment, market expansion, and sustainable livelihoods.
Executed by: The Andhra Pradesh Productivity Council (APPC), an autonomous non-profit organization established in 1958 by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, implementing the project in Telangana through consultancy, micro-enterprise development, skill development, training, surveys, energy audits, and rural livelihood initiatives.
Technology Partner: Next Page Technologies Pvt. Ltd., providing technology development and digital presence with expertise in enterprise web and mobile applications, ERP systems, AI, ML, analytics, and automation, and extensive experience across MSMEs, government projects, and sectors including HR Tech, Commerce, EdTech, Manufacturing, and AgriTech etc.
