Media Release
Udupi, Aug 20: Kadike Trust Karkala which is working towards the revival of Udupi Saree weaving was awarded as one among three NGOs associated with NABARD which has done outstanding work in handloom sector by head office NABARD, Mumbai on August 6, during National Handloom week celebration.
The award was handed over by D C Dakshina Kannada Rajendra K V with Sangeetha Kartha DDM NABARD Dakshina Kannada to Mamatha Rai, president Kadike Trust on August 16, during National Handloom week celebration.
The programme was organised by Kadike Trust in association with Talipady Weavers Service Co Op Society Kinnigoli with NABARD Karnataka Support.
Kadike Trust is working towards the revival of Udupi Saree Weaving which was on the verge of extinction for the past three and half years. Weavers numbers in two districts when Kadike Trust started intervention was just 42 in two districts. There were only eight weavers in Talipady weavers society. Now the total number of Udupi Saree weavers in two districts is more than 70 and in Talipady weavers society it has reached to 34. Weavers average age has come down, youngest one was 54 before intervention and now it’s 28.
Trust trained 19 youngsters in all aspects of weaving for six months with NABARD support. Trust has initiated coming back of weavers to the profession. Trust regularly honours weavers to recognize their skills.
DC lauded the performance of Kadike Trust and Talipady weavers society in reviving Udupi Saree Weaving. He assured that he is ready to give all the support to Udupi Saree Weaving in Dakshina Kannada district.
He conferred Nekara Ratna, highest award by Kadike Trust to extra ordinary weaver to senior weaver Sanjeeva Shettigar 80 count weaver who is one among only nine weavers in two districts who has exemplary skills in all aspects of weaving. Award consists Rs 10,000 and a citation. Later Two 60 count weavers Lakshmi and Kutti Shettigar were also honoured with Uttama Nekara awards.
Highly skilled 80 count come back weaver Venkatesh Shettigar and preloom specialist Damodar Shettigar were also honoured.
A total of 19 Weavers trained by Kadike Trust with NABARD support were presented before the audience in a ramp walk attired in naturally dyed Udupi sarees woven by themselves. They proudly walked the ramp, youngsters coming back to training is taking place after two decades.
The programme concluded with cultural activities by the trainees and senior weavers. Guru Prakash Shetty AGM , Selco Foundation, Anand Shettigar president TWS co op Society were on the dais.
Bhuvan Prasad Hegde Manipal, Jayaram Shettigar leader of weavers community, Trustees of Kadike Trust Shreekumar, Aneel Hegde, Sachin Kumar, Madhava Shettigar MD T W S and members of weavers society were present.