A statewide ethnographic study on the Devanga community and its sub-castes, conducted by the Centre for the Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy (CSSEIP) at the University of Mysore (UoM), revealed that the shift to power looms is causing significant unemployment among the community’s women. The research also uncovered that 90% of Devanga youths are unwilling to pursue their hereditary occupation. For the first time, the study documented the sub-castes within the Devanga community, funded by the Devaraj Urs Research Institute.
The study found that over 80% of the community still relies on weaving, but the industry has been severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, leading many rural weavers into financial hardship. “These women have been forced to take up alternative work, such as playing drums during festivals,” explained D. C. Nanjunda, the study’s lead researcher and Associate Professor at CSSEIP.
The report highlights the negative economic impacts of transitioning from traditional handlooms to more mechanized power looms, which require less labor. “This shift has resulted in economic challenges, especially for women,” Nanjunda stated. The research also found that Devanga weavers suffer from increased instances of short eyesight and respiratory issues due to their work.
During the study, the weavers called for a new textile policy, suggesting the adoption of successful models from Gujarat and Tamil Nadu to boost Karnataka’s textile industry. Shobha Murali Krishna, Working President of the Weavers Federation’s Women’s Wing, urged government intervention. “We recommend forming local societies and providing loom setups to help women continue their work, alongside necessary training,” she said. She also noted that the decreasing job opportunities have led to economic dependence on male family members.
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