Challenges faced by handloom weavers in Manipur and differences between registered and unregistered weavers

Introduction

The Indian handloom industry represents the largest cottage industry in the country and serves as the second-largest source of rural employment after agriculture. It plays a dual role in supporting livelihoods and preserving India's rich cultural heritage. Despite its historical significance and immense employment potential, the sector has been witnessing a gradual decline due to a range of structural and operational challenges that threaten both its sustainability and the livelihoods of traditional weavers (Olive et al., 2021; Gali & Anjaneyulu, 2022) [7,3] . A major set of constraints arises from financial and material limitations within the sector. Weavers often struggle with inadequate working capital, low and irregular wages, and limited access to affordable credit, which forces many to rely on high-interest informal loans. In addition, the rising cost of raw materials such as yarn and dyes, coupled with their inconsistent quality and availability, further aggravates production challenges. These financial bottlenecks directly affect productivity and profitability, making it difficult for weavers to sustain their traditional occupations (Kethan et al., 2022; Singh, 2014; Naik et al., 2025) [4,9,6] . Operational inefficiencies also significantly hinder the growth of the handloom sector. The continued dependence on outdated technologies, poor infrastructure, and traditional production techniques limits efficiency and scalability. Long working hours under inadequate ergonomic conditions expose weavers to serious occupational health issues, reducing their overall well-being and productivity (Kethan et al., 2022; Singh, 2014) [4,9] . In addition to internal constraints, the sector faces intense external competition from power looms and machine-made fabrics, which are cheaper and produced at scale. The growing presence of synthetic substitutes further undermines the demand for authentic handloom products. This situation is compounded by weak marketing systems, including poor market linkages, lack of branding and promotional strategies, and limited integration with modern retail and global value chains. As a result, handloom products often fail to reach wider and more lucrative markets (Das & Swain, 2025; Singh, 2014) [1,9] . Furthermore, the industry is burdened by broader socioeconomic and institutional challenges. High levels of illiteracy among weavers, excessive dependence on government support, ineffective implementation of welfare schemes and the migration of younger generations to www.extensionjournal.com alternative occupations have weakened the sector's long-term viability. Addressing these interconnected financial, technological, marketing and institutional constraints is essential for revitalizing the handloom industry and ensuring its competitiveness in an increasingly globalized market (Olive et al., 2021; Mukhopadhyay, 2022) [7,5] . In the context of Manipur, the handloom sector holds a unique socio-cultural and economic significance, particularly as a women-centric household industry deeply embedded in daily life. The state has one of the highest concentrations of weavers in India, with handloom activities serving as a primary livelihood for a large section of the population. However, the sector in Manipur faces acute challenges such as low income levels, lack of formal institutional support, and heavy dependence on local markets for both raw materials and sales. A large proportion of weavers remain unregistered and excluded from government benefits, limiting their access to financial assistance and welfare schemes. Additionally, issues such as limited market access, inadequate marketing strategies, competition from machine-made products, and lack of modern infrastructure further constrain the sector's growth. Recent socio-political disturbances have also disrupted production and export activities, exacerbating the vulnerability of weavers. Despite its rich heritage and global recognition, the handloom industry in Manipur continues to struggle with issues of commercialization, modernization, and sustainable livelihood generation (Olivia et al., 2026; Government of Manipur; Textile Value Chain, 2025) [8,10] .

Objective

The present study aims (i) to identify the key challenges faced by handloom weavers in Manipur. (ii) To compare the challenges experienced by registered and unregistered weavers by of Thoubal and Imphal East districts of Manipur.

Methodology

The study was conducted in Thoubal district and Imphal East district of Manipur, which were purposively selected due to the high concentration of handloom weavers, as reported by the Handloom Department of Manipur. Within Thoubal district, the study covered the blocks of Lilong, Thoubal and Wangjing Tentha while in Imphal East district, the blocks of Heingang, Keirao, Kshetrigao and Sawombung were included. A total of 600 respondents were selected for the study using a random sampling technique, ensuring representation from all the selected blocks across both districts. The selection aimed to capture a diverse set of handloom weavers, including both registered and unregistered individuals, to facilitate a comparative analysis of their challenges. Primary data were collected using a structured questionnaire specifically designed to capture the challenges faced by handloom weavers and to compare the conditions of registered and unregistered weavers. The responses related to challenges were obtained through a ranking method, enabling the assessment of their relative severity, while comparative aspects were analyzed based on categorical responses. The Rank Based Quotient (RBQ) method was used to analyze and prioritize the challenges faced by handloom weavers based on the ranks assigned by respondents. This method is widely used in socio-economic studies to convert ordinal data (ranks) into quantitative values, thereby enabling comparison and ranking of multiple factors. In this approach, respondents were asked to rank the identified challenges according to their level of severity. The RBQ values were then calculated to determine the relative importance of each constraint. The challenge with the highest RBQ value is considered the most severe, while the one with the lowest RBQ value is regarded as the least significant. The RBQ is computed using the following formula:

Where: 𝑓𝑖= Number of respondents assigning the 𝑖 𝑡ℎ rank; n = Total number of ranks; N = Total number of respondents.

The RBQ method provides a systematic, reliable means of identifying and prioritizing key challenges, as it captures the collective perception of respondents while transforming it into a measurable index. This facilitates better interpretation and supports informed decision-making in addressing the most critical issues faced by handloom weavers.

Results and Discussion

Challenges Faced by Handloom Weavers in Manipur

The Rank Based Quotient (RBQ) analysis was carried out to prioritize the challenges faced by handloom weavers according to their perceived severity. The computed RBQ values range from 10.59 to 82.85, indicating considerable variation in the intensity of constraints experienced by the respondents. Higher RBQ values reflect challenges that are more severe and widespread, while lower values indicate comparatively less pressing issues. The results provide a clear hierarchy of problems affecting the sustainability of handloom livelihoods in the study area.

Comparison of Challenges between Registered and Unregistered Weavers

The comparison presented in Table 2 highlights notable disparities between registered and unregistered handloom weavers in Manipur, particularly across Thoubal district and Imphal East district, with respect to access to institutional support, market opportunities, and financial services. Out of the total respondents, 91 were registered weavers, whereas a majority of 509 were unregistered, indicating the predominance of informal participation in the handloom sector in these districts.

Summary and Conclusion

The study examined the challenges faced by handloom weavers in Manipur, with a specific focus on Thoubal district and Imphal East district, based on a sample of 600 respondents. Using the Rank Based Quotient (RBQ) approach, the findings reveal that health-related issues (RBQ = 82.85), frequent power outages (RBQ = 82.64), and lack of shared infrastructure (RBQ = 79.21) are the most critical challenges affecting weavers' productivity and well-being. Additional constraints such as inadequate training, limited market exposure, dependence on middlemen, seasonal demand fluctuations and rising input costs further contribute to income instability and reduced profitability. The comparison between registered and unregistered weavers highlights significant disparities in access to institutional support. While registered weavers demonstrate relatively better access to government schemes, training, market platforms and financial services, these advantages are not uniformly experienced across all respondents. In contrast, unregistered weavers remain largely excluded, particularly in terms of government support and financial access, indicating a high degree of informality within the sector.

Overall, the study underscores that the handloom sector in Manipur is constrained by a combination of structural, economic and institutional challenges. The persistence of these issues, even among registered weavers, points to gaps in policy implementation and outreach. Therefore, there is an urgent need for inclusive and targeted interventions focusing on improving working conditions, strengthening infrastructure, enhancing market linkages, and expanding access to credit and skill development. Bringing unregistered weavers into the formal system through awareness and simplified registration processes is essential for ensuring equitable growth and long-term sustainability of the sector.

References

1. Das A, Swain PK. Sustainability of the Handloom Textile in India: Opportunities, Challenges, and Strategies. TEXTILE. 2025;23(3-4):598-616.
2. Gali VB, Anjaneyulu K. Impact of Operational Constraints on Quality and Productivity of Handloom Products. International Journal of Management and Humanities. 2022;8(7):14-17.
3. Kethan M, Khizerulla M, Sekhar SC, Basha M. A study on issues and challenges on production of handloom sector with special reference to Rayalaseema and coastal region of Andhra Pradesh. IJAR. 2022;8(6):89-95.
4. Mukhopadhyay TP, editor. Issues and challenges of the Indian handloom sector: A legal perspective. 2022. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha
5. Naik MKP, Bhardwaj P, Mishra V. Post-COVID assessment of small business weavers in an Indian handloom industry: identifying and prioritizing key challenges. Research Journal of Textile and Apparel. 2025;29(1):40-60.
6. Olive PF, Mahendran K, Lavanya SM, Devi HD. An empirical analysis of constraints faced by the handloom weavers and weaver cooperative societies in Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu. Current Journal of Applied Science and Technology; 2021. https://doi.org/10.9734/cjast/2021/v40i4531626
7. Olivia LC, Chanu SD, Singh SR. Socio-Economic Conditions of Women Handloom Workers: Evidence from Imphal East and Thoubal Districts of Manipur. Archives of Current Research International. 2026;26(1):297-303.
8. Singh B. Handloom Industry in India: Problems and Prospects. Journal of Business Management and Information Systems. 2014;1(1):173-180.
9. Textile Value Chain. Manipur exports are impacted by ethnic conflict by about 80%; 2025. https://textilevaluechain.in/manipur-exports-areimpacted-by-ethnic-conflict-by-about-80