Malda's Handloom Weavers Fight for Survival Amidst Modern Machinery

• Malda's 'Tanti Para' (Weavers' Locality) in Sahapur, Old Malda Block, once echoed with handloom clatter, now faces silence.
• Many weavers have migrated or changed professions due to low income and high labor, with only about 16 houses still having looms.
• Senior weaver Haradhan Das notes a significant decline from 15 years ago when almost every house had a loom.
• Weavers like Tarun Das earn 300-400 rupees daily, finding it difficult to sustain families with current market prices.
• The community now primarily produces Khadi fabric, working under owners and providing only labor, struggling to keep tradition alive.