The Karnataka Handloom Development Corporation (KHDC) Ltd has requested the State Government to give a five-year order for supplying uniforms to government schools in the State, according to Mr Mohammad Mohsin, Managing Director of the corporation.

At an informal chat here on the sidelines of the inauguration of the first buyer-seller meet of handloom products produced under the Integrated Handloom Development Scheme, he said that the Government has been buying school uniforms from the corporation under the Vidya Vikas Scheme.

A five-year order for school uniform will assure livelihood for around 13,000 weavers under the corporation in the State. He said that the KHDC has also sought around 30 per cent hike in price for uniforms supplied through Vidya Vikas Scheme.

The labour-intensive handloom weaving requires the dedicated human resources, he said, adding that in the case of mill looms a handful people are enough.

On the availability of manpower, he said many second-generation weavers are not coming to this profession. Considering this, the corporation has initiated steps to train people in weaving.

Asked about the demand for product ranges, he said silk saris, bed sheets and other home furnishing items are in good demand. Design institutes such as National Institute of Design and National Institute of Fashion Technology are helping the corporation in preparing designs for its various products.

On the performance of KHDC showrooms in different parts of the country, he said that the corporation has got good response for its products in its showrooms, except in Jaipur.

Mr Mohsin said he would visit the Jaipur showroom next month to see whether it can be revived. Quoting a study, he said most foreign tourists prefer to take silk products from India their way back home. “Our main products are silk and cotton. I think they (tourists) will be happy to take more products from our showroom there,” he said.

The total turnover of KHDC stood at Rs 135 crore during 2010-11 against Rs 98 crore in the previous year, he added.

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