What are the disadvantages of the …

The putting out system is an arrangement in which work is handed out by a cloth merchant to weavers based on the orders received. The merchant supplies the raw material as well as provides the market for the finished product. The quantity of the work to be done is also specified and weavers are paid accordingly.

Market are always one-sided. In other words, it is always the rich and the influential that gain maximum from the market. They own large factories, set up big shops, etc. They exploit the poor workers by overburdening them and paying them very low wages.

The weaver’s cooperatives help the weavers to earn a higher income and reduce their dependence on the merchant. In a weaver’s cooperative, the weavers form a group and collectively initiate some activities. These activities include;

• Procurement of yarn from the yarn dealer

• Distribution of yarn among the weavers

• Marketing

The government also intervenes at times to help the weavers. For example in Tamil Nadu the government runs a Free School Uniform programme for which it procures the cloth from the powerloom weaver’s cooperatives. The Co-optex stores are also an example of government intervention for the interest of the weavers. The government buys cloth from the handloom weaver’s cooperatives and sells it through Co-optex stores.