Rajkot (Gujarat), July 22 (ANI):The traditional Patola silk sari business has been hit by the rising prices of silk in Gujarat.
Mansukh Bhai, a Patola silk sari trader, said the business has suffered due to the rising price of silk. He said many weavers have changed their profession as a result.
Rajkot city, a famous Patola silk sari producing center, has numerous weaver families involved in this trade.
"There was a time when more than 300 families were making Patola in Gujarat. But now, the situation is such that the price of silk has increased. Families which cannot manage with the rising prices of silk have changed to other work. But Patola market has lost its earlier strength. The government should come forward with some subsidy and should control the prices of silk. It should be reduced," Mansukh, a silk weaver said.
He also pointed out that the number of families involved in the weaving of Patola silk saris has fallen to around 70.
The decline in the number of customers has also served to discourage the weavers from their traditional trade.
One of the female weavers pointed out that it had become difficult for her to make both ends meet due to the decreasing number of patola silk consumers, discouraged by the rising prices.
"Earlier, the price of silk was low. More people were engaged in it. It used to cost about Rs. 3500 ($78.8589). Now, the silk price has gone up and so we have to produce it at a rate of about Rs. 5000. People who can afford it continue buying it. But if the government helps us and reduces the rate of silk then we will also get more work," said Amrita, another silk weaver.
Patola silk saris have been one of the most popular varieties of silk saris which is produced traditionally on wooden looms in western India. (ANI)
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