© 2018 JETIR September 2018, Volume 5, Issue 9 www.jetir.

org (ISSN-2349-5162)

A STUDY ON PROBLEMS OF MAT WEAVERS

IN PATTAMADAI.
S.POOMARI
RESEARCH SCHOLAR
V.O.CHIDAMBARAM COLLEGE
THOOTHUKUDI

ABSTRACT
Mat weaving is an important traditional handicraft of Tamil Nadu which is famous for its Korai dry-
grass mats. Mat weavers from here not only create intricate patterns and designs, but mats are multi
coloured and often represent the ornate Pallav of traditional silk sari from Tamil Nadu. Mats made with
korai/sedge grass are extremely delicate and highly valued. Korai grass (Cyperus corymbosus Rottb.) is
found in abundance along the banks of the rivers and in marshy areas in Tamil Nadu. Pattamadai village in
Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu is famous forits fine quality mats. Here the local reed is split into nearly
hundred pieces and are woven on a loom with a cotton warp. The mats are so fine that they can be rolled
and placed into a small box. The weaving also takes enormous time and patience on the part of the weaver.
Men and women of the Lebbai Muslim community weave these famous mats only in this village. The mat
weaving industry of Pattamadai, which hitherto used synthetic dyes for colouring its internationally
acclaimed rugs, is all set to use an eco-friendly colorant, extracted from a plant. The study involved field
works and interviews. The present work was undertaken to collect the information about the mat weaving
art, and also study the natural dye yielding plants and their extraction methodology as well as dyeing
properties in mat weaving.

Keywords: Cyperus corymbosus, Korai grass, Mat weaving, Natural dye.

INTRODUCTION
Along with basketry mat-weaving is proactive throughout India and among various communities.
Grass, palm, bamboo and date leaf are made all over India. These mats are used as floor covering in Indian
homes serving the same purpose as the woolen carpets and hence in many places are dyes or ornamented
with silk work. Mats are also used as wall decorations, table covers, bedspreads and for various other
purposes, floor mats are commonly made in South India. The socio-economic conditions of our country
have many impacts on the cottage industries which are the back bone of the rural economy. the researcher
has noticed number of mat weavers in Pattamadai their fore it is the need of the day to assess the condition
of mat weaver and to take necessary step to protect them for sickness and death in this spirit the researcher
has chosen socio condition of mat weavers in Pattamadai the most famous place for mat weavers in India for
his study.

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OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

 To study the production and marketing of mat weavers.

 To assess the problems faced by the mat weavers.

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study is mainly concerned with the problems and prospects of mat weavers in Pattamadai. The
researcher makes an attempt to study the socio-economic background of the mat weavers in Pattamadai, the
problems faced by them in getting funds from banks, co-operative society and the problem faced in getting
material for the product by the mat weavers in Pattamadai

METHODOLOGY
This study is based on both primary and secondary data. The primary data have been collected from
the mat weavers through the structured interviews schedule. Secondary data have been collected from
books, articles, magazines and also from internet.

SAMPLE DESIGN
The researcher has selected the convenience sampling method. The researcher has chosen 50 mat
weavers were from the population as per the convenience of the researcher.

DATA COLLECTION
The present study is mainly based on primary data. The respondents selected for the study were
mostly met at their house. The required primary data were collected by interview schedule.

TOOLS FOR ANALYSIS

The use of statistical tools helps us to evaluate the problem under the study in a judicial manner.
While analyzing the primary data statistical tools such as tables, graphs, percentage, and ranking techniques
are used to analysis the problems and prospects of mat weavers in Pattamadai.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE
C. Pangorei as a fibre plant has remained barely studied. Nevertheless, interest in this crop seems to
be increasing worldwide for its importance in the making of Pathamadai Silk Mats (Amalraj, 1990; Benazir,
2010; Govind, 2004 Balaji, 2005; Venkatesan, 2005; Basu, 2005). The aim of this investigation is to
evaluate the anatomy, fibre dimensions and derived values, chemical, and physico-mechanical properties of
the fibre macerates and culm strands of this wonderful mat sedge so as to understand the strength and
properties of its fibres.

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However, until recently, C. Pangoreias a fibre plant has remained barely studied. Nevertheless,
interest in this crop seems to be increasing worldwide for its importance in the making of Pathamadai Silk
Mats (Amalraj, 1990; Benazir, 2010; Govind, 2004; Balaji, 2005; Venkatesan, 2005; Basu, 2005). The aim
of this investigation is to evaluate the anatomy, fibre dimensions and derived values, chemical, and physico-
mechanical properties of the fibre macerates and culm strands of this wonderful mat sedge so as to
understand the strength and properties of its fibres.

Dr. S. Muthiah, A.Venkateswaran Pattamadai mat weavers and Fine mat products are of
international repute. Though the Pattamadai mat products are enjoying a ready market both at home and
abroad, there are grey areas demanding immediate attention to sustain and further improve this traditional
craft and to help the Pattamadai Fine mat weavers to achieve new heights. In the present study, we have
analysed the socio-economic profile and the problems of Mat weavers in Pattamadai of Tirunelveli District.

Dr.S.Muthiah Mat weaving is an important traditional handicraft of Tamil Nadu which is famous for
its korai dry-grass mats. The weaving also takes enormous time and patience on the part of the weaver. Men
and women of the Muslim community weave these famous fine mats only in Pattamadai of Tirunelveli
District. The MSMEs have been characterized by their traditional strengths of relatively low investment
requirements, effective resource utilization, greater operational flexibility, mobility and higher
innovativeness. MSME, sector worldwide is being considered as the growth engine of any economy. The
general aim of the present paper is to explore the social, economic and working conditions of the weavers of
Pattamadai in particular and the problems, prospects as well as its characteristics.

DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

Classification of mat weavers on the basis of fixing the price:
Fixing the price is a vital role for the mat weavers is made by fixing the price is made and the
following table show

CLASSIFICATION OF MAT WEAVERS ON THE BASIS OF FIXING THE PRICE

Fixing the price No. of Respondents Percentage

Self 15 30
Society 27 54
Agent / broker 2 4
Retailer 6 12
Total 50 100
Source: Primary Data

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30 54%

25
30%
20

15

10 12%
4%
5

Table shows that out of 50 respondents 30 percent of the respondents are fixing the price by them
own and following by 54 percent of the respondents are fixing the price by society anther4 percent of the
respondents are agent / broker and another 12 percent of the respondents are retailer.

MARKETING PROBLEMS MAT WAVERS PRODUCERS

Classification of the mat weavers by production relative problems

MARKETING PROBLEMS OF MAT WAVERS PRODUCERS

Sl. Production SA A NO DA SDA Total
No Problems
1. Lack of raw 18(36.0) 17(34.0) 2(4.0) 7(14.0) 6(12.0) 50(100)
material
2. Lack of workers 17(34.0) 19(38.0) 2(4.0) 5(10.0) 7(14.0) 50(100)
3. Lack of demand 22(44.0) 17(34.0) 1(2.0) 9(18.0) 1(2.0) 50(100)
4. Lack of rainy 34(68.0) 10(20.0) 1(2.0) 4(8.0) 2(4.0) 50(100)
season
5. Lack of finance 18(36.0) 13(26.0) 1(2.0) 10(20.0) 9(16.0) 50(100)
6. Competition by 22(44.0) 12(24.0) 2(4.0) 12(24.0) 6(14.0) 50(100)
plastic mate
7. Lack of motivation 15(30.0) 15(30.0) 2(4.0) 10(20.0) 8(16) 50(100)
Source: Primary Data
The above table reveals that most of the mat weavers either strongly agree or agree with the
statements of production problems. Among the mat weaver, majority of 68.0 per cent are strongly agree

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with the statement ‘Lack of finance’ and next majority of 38.0 per cent are agree with the statement ‘Lack of
motivation’. It is inferred that majority of the mat weavers face the production problems of finance.

FINDINGS
 It is clear from the study that majority of the respondents are facing problems due to lack of finance.
So the government should provide the assistance to mat weavers.
 Majority of the respondent 54 per cent sell their product to the co-operative society. They as avail
loan.
 The analysis reveals that majority (54 per cent) of the mat wavers had invested below Rs.1000.
 It is identified that majority of the mat wavers face the production problems of there is minimum
amount of orders minimum amount of employers required.

SUGGESTIONS
 Co-operative societies should give more importance to promotional strategies and government should
give promotion subsidy to well established mat weavers. Co-operative society can employ interesting
sales promotion tools like coupons, free gifts etc to create interest and excitement to the customer to buy
mat weavers. Publicity is one of the essential factors, which influence the sale of the mat weavers.
Therefore government should provide special publicity drive to promote mat weavers
 The government should help the weavers for purchasing the new modern machine of mat loom.
 The various intuition should conduct the exhibition mainly for their mat weavers to sell their product.

CONCLUSION
The study gives a clear idea of socio economic conditions of mat weavers in Pattamadai. it is hoped
that suggestions made in this study, will help in solving many problems of the poor and downtrodden mat
weavers who, the challenges faced by scientists, researchers, extension workers and farmers in the next
millennium would be to find appropriate ways of utilizing the earth's resources to feed the expanded human
population with the improved living standards in the rural areas. Directly, it provides massive employment
opportunities to the mat weavers, indirectly a significant section rural mass gets livelihood through
marketing mat based products. Due to modernization of many industries, the mat weavers face lot of
problems such as low wages, poor working conditions seasonal temporary employment so, the government
must take necessary steps to overcome their problems and improve their socio economic condition.

REFERENCES
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3. Matthew KM, The Flora of Tamil Nadu CarnaticVol I, The Rapinat Herbarium,
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