Industry
Make In India failed
Malkha India won
Government’s Make In India campaign has failed. It aimed to attract big businesses and corporations to India. It would have only helped in jobless growth. Instead, Make in India should have focussed on micro and small Indian businesses and trades such as cotton weaving. Malkha India has proves that by helping artisans and growers, Indian economy will benefit more, than focusing only on big businesses. Malkha India’s story is of real make in India.
Malkha cotton is one of original Indian products. India grew and spun cotton for more than 3000 years. Till early 1800s India was the largest producer of cotton.
Cotton industry is worth over $425 billion. Though, India has again become world’s second largest cotton grower, cotton industry forces farmers to grow only one variety of cotton. It is new world cotton of Americas. It only comes in one white colour and the yarn is suitable for mass production. The old world cotton of Indian subcontinent comes in colours such as tans, blues, green and pinks. Malkha India is reviving the thousands of years old Indian cotton. It aims to provide ownership of means of production to farmers, spinners, ginners, dyers, weavers.
Uzzramma started Malkha India in 2005. Her aim was to make artisans and growers financially independent. She chose to use technology to enable the weavers and artisans. Unlike the existing machines, the new technology does not use baled cotton. The final product has bounce, can retain colour and is breathable. India’s top fashion designers such as Sabyasachi and Wendell Rodericks have used the fabric.
Uzzramma said in an interview to The Better India, “Where I want to ultimately see the Indian handloom industry is a 10-mile walk. I want to work with organic cotton, I want to produce different varieties of cotton, train artisans to be the owners of their local economy, and have more stores. But as of now, I’ve managed to walk only an inch.”
Today Malkha India operates two spinning units and four weaving units in the states of Southern India. Malkha India employs more than 120 artisans. They earn INR 15000 per month, work six days a week and get three weeks of paid leave. Most of the cotton growers and artisans are in debt. Malkha India produces 10,000 metres of fabric.
India has more than 40 lakh weavers and 6 crore people working in the cotton industry. Malkha India’s model can help weavers to become financially independent, and revive the original and better cotton fabric/ product in India.
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