As we walk through the tiny alleys of Banaras, leaving behind the sheer grandeur and the gentle echoes of the beautiful and divine river Ganges, we enter a completely different world, a world where dreams are woven and given a shape. However as we walk through the narrow and filthy lanes of Bazardiha, it didn't bear witness to the same Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency which was once represented by former HRD Minister and senior BJP leader, Murli Manohar Joshi and in the 16th Lok Sabha represented by India’s Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. One of the oldest surviving cities on earth, the cosmopolitan part of Varanasi probably has everything, good roads, shopping centres, food joints, reflective of a growing urban city. But a few kilometres inside, if you wish to make a visit to Bazardiha, auto and cycle rickshaws refrain from taking you there. And this is a personal experience that we're sharing with you. Why such a stepmotherly attitude towards that part of the city? The reason isn't that difficult to predict because they have to spend more time plying these areas as most of the roads leading to Bazardiha village in Sevapuri Tehsil of Varanasi district are broken and filled with water and mud. This area is home to more than two lakh people, 90 percent of them being Muslims, is known as a hub of weavers in Varanasi. But Bazardiha has multiple other identities as well. Sometimes these ‘other’ identities are more convincing for people who visit here from rest part of Varanasi to recall this place. They remember Bazardiha as an area which has power outage, filthy and broken streets and unemployed youths.
All these weaver families depend on earning from handlooms but since the past decade though they've been working equally hard but what they earn is too little to sustain a livelihood. These workshops usually have unhealthy working environment, lack of basic resources and health services as a result it has led to a high number of diseases including Tuberculosis. Child labour is rampant and cases of drug consumption among youngsters are on the rising. Several cases of suicide and hunger death have also been reported during last couple of years. Millions of lovers of shinning and marvelous Banarasi saris across the globe may not know that these weavers who make such beautiful saris are in such a pitiable state. In May 2013, the plight of the local weaver community came into limelight when two children, Shabeena (14) and Murtuza (3.5) died due to malnutrition in Bazardiha. Their father Abdul Khaliq had died 10 months ago due to several diseases. After this incident members of civil society groups approached several government officials and then Nadira, mother of kids, got a Below Poverty Line Ration Card to get monthly grain supply from the government on subsidised rates. But is this enough?
Local weavers hoped that the then sitting MP, Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi would visit the victim family but he didn’t show up. There is also a high level of tuberculosis, particularly Multi Drug Resistance Tuberculosis (MDTRB) reported in the area. Ghazala Qamar, an activist associated with People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights, alleged that all governments have neglected the area. “People of Bazardiha are facing lots of problems. There is only one government health centre but it is too small and works only four hours a day. Child delivery mostly happened in homes or they have to go to hospitals far from their homes. No government is serious about problems of Bazardiha people,” said Qamar. She said some of nearby towns have better facilities than what they have in Bazardiha. Basic government services like banking and education are also a rare sight in the area and people have to depend on local moneylenders for loan. Several families have huge debts on them which lead to various other diseases like blood pressure and depression and sometimes it even leads to suicide. “There is neither a single bank nor an ATM. There is only one school which has only three teachers for 180 students,” Qamar substantiates. Because of huge poverty and lack of resources they are exploited by masters and owners, known as gaddidar, because these gaddidars set the market rate and pay less to the weavers. Abdul Qadir, a weaver, says he earns less than a daily wage labourer.
"The level of market is declining day by day. Earlier we used to get Rs 900 for a set of work but now it is hard to get more than Rs 600,” said Qadir in helpless voice. "
"Saris are not being sold and gaddidars are telling that you people should work on low price if you want to continue. They are telling that market of saris is very down. Even a daily wage labourer earn ₹300 every day but we don't even make that!" he explained.
He said that the government had issued Resham Card (Silk Card) like ration card but according to Qadir, for labourers like him it is almost impossible to use such facilities. He said that with this card one has to purchase at least four kg silk and our need is only about half kg. We can’t afford to purchase four kg silk at one time. According to Qadir four kg silk costs at least Rs 4500. He demanded the government to open Bunkar Haat in the locality where government should purchase their products directly.
Rahmatullah, another weaver who is in the business for last 26 years, is worried due to high rate of inflation and low income. “I am in this business for last 26 years but since last couple of years it seems that it is a dying business. Inflation is rising and income is declining,” Most of weavers like Qadir believe that due to rising power loom industry in Gujarat’s Surat district, Varanasi handloom industry is suffering. Power loom produces these saris at cheaper cost and faster rate and they also use synthetic rather than silk. “A sari which we weave in six days will be weaved in power loom within one day,” Qadir explained. A large number of weavers reportedly had migrated to Surat for job after power loom industry boomed up since last decade. They also accused industrialists in Surat for copying their design which are illegal.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi who won Varanasi Lok Sabha seat by defeating Arvind Kejriwal with a huge margin in this general election hails from Gujarat. It would be very interesting to see if he listens to the grievances of weavers of his new constituency and if he does something to make a balance between Surat and Varanasi. They argue that only six districts of Uttar Pradesh including Varanasi have Geographical Indication (GI) certificate which means only in these districts Banarasi sari can be produced. The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 which came into effect from 15 September 2003, is followed by World Trade Organization member nations including India. According to Geographical Indication Registry of Ministry of Commerce and Industry “Geographical Indications of Goods are defined as that aspect of industrial property which refer to the geographical indication referring to a country or to a place situated therein as being the country or place of origin of that product.” Weavers of Varanasi got the certificate of GI in 2009 but unfortunately Banarasi saris are being manufactured illegally in several parts of the country which is one of the main reasons behind such pathetic condition of weavers in Bazardiha.
Recession and low earning are not the only problem here. Due to poverty, lack of education and work drug consumption is spreading among youngsters. According to Bunkar Ekta Manch, a local body of weavers in Bazardiha, 60 percent homes at least have one drug addicted youth. Usually they use cough syrups and pain killer medicines, which are easily available in the area. It is first time in history of Varanasi in Independent India that the Prime Minister himself will be representing it in the Lok Sabha. However, people of Bazardiha are not much hopeful that their good days will come soon. Qadir says that during this Lok Sabha election some candidates raised weavers’ issues. “Some candidates have raised our issues but I am not sure that problem will solve because these politicians often forget what they promise,” Qadir said. “Among the tall leaders only Arvind Kejriwal visited the area and I don’t have any hope that anyone will hear poor people,” Qamar said sadly.
The apathy however tends to continue and there is no end to the plight of these poor weavers who toil day and night to make our brides beautiful. Can't we make an effort to help them at least live a life and dignity and sustain a livelihood? There surely isn't asking for a lot. Our Prime Minister has promised to make Varanasi a smart city, a world class city. But can just infrastructural changes are enough when people residing in the interiors are dying out of malnutrition, hunger and poverty? Or are we waiting for some big Bollywood film to highlight the issue and then we'll start agitating? It is high time that the issue is dealt with urgency and seriousness otherwise a grave tragedy is on the calling and by then it would be too late.
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