Ranchi, March 2: Jharcraft’s crisp cotton shirts may just become the must-buy for global importers at Hannover Messe 2013, one of Germany’s largest trade shows to be held between April 8-12, 2013. But their weaves and stitches hold an untold story.
Woven by Maoist-hit Latehar’s villagers with training from Jharcraft on the district administration’s behest, the shirts are more than a sartorial makeover. Villagers of Latehar’s Pokharikala under Barwadih block have proved they can succeed in moving away from rebel terror with a tailor-made solution.
Even scared migrants are coming back home — over 500 families, who had fled to Bhadohi and Bhiwandi of Uttar Pradesh and worked as weavers in Banarasi sari and carpet industries, are back.
While Jharcraft has enrolled all the persons who have returned, it has also created 850 self-help groups in Garu, Mahuatand and Barwadih blocks of Latehar in the past six months.
Bureaucrats are, with reason, patting themselves on the back for the “strategic implementation” of the Centre-sponsored Saryu Action Plan (SAP).
“We roped in Jharcraft for training, production and marketing of products for which we handed over four buildings in Barwadih under the integrated action plan to Jharcraft,” deputy commissioner Aradhana Patnaik told The Telegraph from Latehar.
“We’ve devised a way to usher in tangible change under the SAP umbrella for a much needed boost to the district’s development,” she added.
Patnaik, formerly a labour commissioner, has also implemented the Interstate Migration Act in letter and spirit at panchayats.
“Under the act, it is obligatory to maintain record of migration from every village. I have made filing of migration forms a must through the mukhiyas of the respective panchayats. So, the recent influx is on the record. It’s a positive sign,” she added.
Jharcraft managing director Dhirendra Kumar said he was upbeat about the area’s prospects.
“Our motto is to enrol at least one person from each household. Initially, when we conducted a project feasibility survey, it revealed that the region had nearly one lakh traditional weavers, honey processors and bamboo craftspersons. We started silk and cotton weaving, honey processing and bamboo lifestyle products,” Kumar said.
He also had a word of praise for Pokharikala’s fabric.
“It’s been highly appreciated by people who understand yarns,” Kumar said. “Let us all acknowledge our traditional craftspersons. The day is not far when importers make a beeline here for unique lifestyle products.”
Latehar, future boutique to the world.
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