AJHS

Asian Journal of Home Science

Volume 12 | Issue 2 | December, 2017 | 378-381
DOI: 10.15740/HAS/AJHS/12.2/378-381
e ISSN-0976-8351 Visit us: www.researchjournal.co.in
Research Paper

Socio-economic status of Guledgudda Khana weavers

PRATIKHYA BADANAYAK AND SADHANA D. KULLOLI
Received: 14.04.2017; Revised: 25.09.2017; Accepted: 11.10.2017

ABSTRACT : Many clusters of Karnataka state use traditional designs and intricate weaving
methods. The more traditional sarees of Karnataka are the Molkalmuru sarees of Chitradurga
and the Ilkal sarees of Bagalkot. The traditional Guledgudda Khana (Choli or Blouse, elsewhere
called Khana), which is only one traditional cluster making blouse fabric in India. Khana are the
choli or blouse material with extra warp dobby figures, which are the traditional products of
northern Karnataka. Earlier it was woven on pit loom having no warp beam using silk warp and
cotton weft. Now-a-days due the existence of powerloom most of the weavers are using extra
warp beam but dimension of the material remains same. The body is fully covered with extra warp
figuring with dobby shedding mechanism and each Khana piece is about 80cm width and 50cm
length. India’s textile is presenting the most intricate and variegated traditional designs to its
end users in the world which constitute one of the costly source of textile designs also but this
sector is beset with various problems, such as lack of skill, obsolete technology, haphazard
production system, inadequate working capital, weak marketing links and health problems like
eye sight weakness, joint pain and dust allergy. The study was conducted to know the socio-
economic status and associated health problems of Guledgudda Khana weavers of north
See end of the paper for authors’ affiliations Karnataka. The information was collected through personal interview method from the weavers.
PRATIKHYA BADANAYAK The study revealed that situation of the weavers was worrying due to illiteracy, financial
Department of Textile and Apparel constraints and health problems.
Designing, College of Rural Home
Science, University of Agricultural KEY WORDS: Guledgudda, Khana weavers, Socio-economic status, Health problems
Sciences, DHARWAD (KARNATAKA)
INDIA HOW TO CITE THIS PAPER : Badanayak, Pratikhya and Kulloli, Sadhana D. (2017). Socio-economic
Email : pratikshyabdnk16@
gmail.com
status of Guledgudda Khana weavers. Asian J. Home Sci., 12 (2) : 378-381, DOI: 10.15740/HAS/AJHS/
12.2/378-381.

M
any clusters of Karnataka state use traditional are the blouse materials with extra warp figuring with
designs and intricate weaving methods. A large dobby shedding mechanism, which are traditional product
number of villages in Karnataka even today of northern Karnataka (Namrata and Naik, 2008). It is
produce sarees and blouse piece from light weight printed woven on pit loom having no warp beam. The woven
silks of Bangalore, mulberry silk sarees of Mysore, Patti material has border on both sides ranging from 15 to 23
pallav of Hubli and Betageri, polycotton sarees of cm in width; with two strips of extra warp figuring all
Lakkundi and Shigli and silk sarees with contrast borders along the length and each Khana piece will be about
of Molakalmuru. Prominently notable among them are 80cm width and 50cm length.
Ilkal sarees with tope teni pallav and Khana the choli In India the handloom sector occupies a second
material of Ilkal, Gajendragad and Guledgudda. Khana place next to agriculture in terms of employment. Power

HIND INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 PRATIKHYA BADANAYAK AND SADHANA D. KULLOLI

loom sector comes second to it, it is easier and drudgery Table 1: Demographic characteristics of the weavers (n=30)
reducing machine used widely across the country. Despite Sr. Variables No. of respondents
No. (Percentage)
of it’s widespread across the country this sector is
Age
confronted with various problems, such as irregular and
1. Young (<30years) 3 (10)
inadequate supply of raw materials, financial constraints, 2. Middle (30-45 years) 19 (63.33)
health problems and poor government support etc. 3. Old (>45 years) 8 (26.67)
Illiteracy, having low education level and economic status Education
also affect the health condition of the weavers. 1. Illiterate 2 (6.67)
Thus, the present study is conducted to know the 2. Primary (1 -7 standard) 11 (36.67)
socio-economic status and health problems faced by the 3. Secondary (8 -10 standard) 12 (40)
Guledgudda Khana weavers and to know the factors 4. Higher secondary (PUC standard) 4 (13.33)
that affect their health condition. 5. Degree and above (UG and PG standard) 1 (3.33)
Type of family
1. Nuclear 9 (30)
RESEARCH METHODS
2. Joint 21 (70)
The information on the demographic characteristics Family size
and the health problems faced by the Khana weavers of 1 Small (< 4 members) 9 (30)
Guledgudda were collected by personally interviewing 2 Medium (5 -9 members) 21 (70)
thirty randomly selected Khana weavers of Guledgudda 3 Large (>9 members) 0 (0)
using self structured interview schedule. The data was Annual Income (in Rs.)
statistically analysed using frequencies, percentages and 1. Low income ( Rs. <20000) 16 (53.33)
t-test. 2. Middle income (Rs. 20001-Rs. 40000) 12 (40)
3. High income (Rs. >40001) 2 (6.67)
Daily Working hours
RESEARCH FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION 1. 4 hours 0 (0)
The demographic characteristics of the Khana 2. 6 hours 0 (0)
weavers are presented in Table. 1. 3. 8 hours 5 (16.67)
It is found from Table 1 that, majority of the weavers 4. 10 hours 10 (33.33)
belonged to middle age group (63.33%), followed by old 5. 12 hours 15 (50)
age group (26.67%), had an education upto secondary 6. More than 12hours 0 (0)
level (40%) followed by primary school education
(36.67%). It is found that, most of the weavers belonged that, the majority of the weavers had the problem of
to joint family system (70%), followed by nuclear family back pain (86.67%) while weaving , followed by eyesight
type (30%), and low income group (53.33%) with rupees problem (70%), dust allergy (40%) and joint pain
less than 20000/- per annum. It was also found that 50 (26.67%). These health problems may be because of
per cent of weavers were working more than 12 hours regular bending, treadling, beating process, continuous
per day. Since maximum per cent of the weavers observation for picking and cutting of threads and also
continued their ancestor’s profession of weaving, due to the dusts from the yarns which enter their eyes,
belonged to middle age and old age group, they worked nose and mouth which might be the main cause for eye
upto 12 hours/day, had an education upto secondary level irritation and dust allergy.
and have joint family type system with medium family It is observed from the Table 3 that, the effect of
size. Hence may be to continue the weaving profession
they did not try for government jobs. So, the income was Table 2 : Health problems faced by the Guledgudda Khana weavers
through weaving and weaving became their main source (n=30)
of livelihood. Sr. No. Name of aliments No. of respondents (Percentage)
Many health problems are faced by the Guledgudda 1. Eyesight weakness 21 (70)
Khana weavers but only most occurring health problems 2. Joint pain 8 (26.67)
were considered here i.e., Eyesight weakness, Joint pain, 3. Dust allergy 12 (40)
Dust allergy and back pain. Table 2 and Fig. 1 shows 4. Back pain 26 (86.67)

Asian J. Home Sci., 12(2) Dec., 2017 : 378-381 379 HIND INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
 SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF GULEDGUDDA KHANA WEAVERS

Table 3 : Effect of age and working hours on weaver’s health condition

Sr. No. Health aliments Demographic variables Calculated t value Tabulated t value
1. Eyesight weakness Age 28.20 4.303 (at 5%)
Working hours 45.83
2. Joint pain Age 5.12 9.925 (at 1%)
Working hours 8.33
3. Dust allergy Age 5.12
Working hours 8.33
4. Back pain Age 46.15
Working hours 66.67

Number of respondents
100

50

Eyesight
weakness
Dust allergy
Joint pain

Back pain

Fig. 1 : Health problems faced by Khana weavers

age and working hours on health condition of the Khana the weavers are from middle age group and their working
weavers is highly significant at 5 % and at 1% level of capacity is 12 hours per day. The health problems
significance. From this it can be concluded that with the associated significantly due to increase in the age and
increase in the age and working hours there is a significant working hours of the Khana weavers. From this it can
increase in their health problems. Due to continuous be concluded that due to increase in age working hours/
standing and doing other physical works like bending and day, the weavers are faced back pain and joint pain
so on, they are facing problems like joint pain and back problem as well as dust allergy and eye sight weakness.
pain. Due to continuous weaving process and looking Thus for uplifting the socio-economic status of the Khana
into it for a longer time cause dust allergy and eyesight weaver’s they must make use of the government subsidies
weakness. Apart from this age is also another factor and policies and go for regular health checkups, include
which is responsible for their existing health condition. a balanced diet and also go for savings.
Similar work related to the present investigation was also
carried out by Namrata and Naik (2008); Prathap and Authors’ affiliations:
Naidu (2015); Phukan (2012); Tripathy (2009) and SADHANA D. KULLOLI, Department of Textile and Apparel
Designing, College of Rural Home Science, University of Agricultural
Venkateswaran (2014). Sciences, DHARWAD (KARNATAKA) INDIA (Email :
sadhanadk@gmail.com)
Conclusion :
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12 Year
th

 of Excellence 

Asian J. Home Sci., 12(2) Dec., 2017 : 378-381 381 HIND INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY