DIGITAL THREADS: ANALYZING THE EFFECTS OF TECHNOLOGICAL INTERVENTIONS ON INDIA'S IKAT ARTISAN ECONOMIES

Анотація

Historically, the Indian handloom sector has experienced a curious trajectory, from a tradition dating back thousands of years to a craft that severely suffered under British rule. Despite the importance attributed to hand-spun swadeshi cloth during the Indian independence movement, many weavers are barely able to make ends meet today. This has been compounded further by the advent of the digital age and internet technologies. Recognizing this, several technological interventions have been deployed in India's ikat artisan economies during the 21st century. This spans from the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF), its flagship program Digital Cluster Development Programme (DCDP), alongside other notable organizations like Microsoft and Tata Trusts. Hence, this paper analyzes the effects of these interventions on India’s primary ikat hubs. Examining qualitative and quantitative data surrounding the impact of digital interventions on these communities, it will shed light on how digitalization can empower weavers within the handloom ecosystem, increase their wages, reduce the dominance of middlemen, and equip them with greater agency in the marketplace. This paper will also critically evaluate the approach taken by these interventions, its impact on the livelihood of weavers, and lastly, discuss the broader effects of digitalization within the context of a capitalist paradigm.

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