In ‘Carpet City’ Bhadohi, Struggling Weavers Look for a Solution
The Quint reached the ‘carper city’ of Bhadohi in Uttar Pradesh to understand the political mood
Video Editor: Purnendu Pritam
The Quint reached the 'carpet city' of Bhadohi in Uttar Pradesh to understand the political mood. Bhadohi's carpets are famous across the world, but the business seems to be dipping. Weavers are struggling as they earn only Rs 150-200 per day.
After demonetisation and GST, businesses collapsed, exporters were caught in red tape and customers also didn't seem to be interested. The carpet business is worth Rs 600 crore, with Persian carpets being the one with highest demand. The 250-year-old business provides employment for around two lakh weavers in India.
Carpet weavers are frustrated with the Modi government, because government schemes have not benefited them. They are in a mood for change. Carpet business is one of the issue this election.
Bhadohi is seeing a three-way contest where caste factor is most dominant. Ramesh Bind is fighting from the BJP while Rangnath Mishra from the BSP. However, Congress can mar the coalition equation, with Ramkanth Yadav fighting the election from Congress. There are 55% Hindu and 45% Muslim voters in Bhadohi. Bind and Brahmin voters are decisive in the city. In 2014, Birendra Singh Mast had won from here. Who will win in 2019? Watch the video to know more.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)