SPATIAL DISPARITIES AND REGIONAL PLANNING IN THE INDIAN HANDLOOM SECTOR REVITALISING RURAL LIVELIHOODS THROUGH DECENTRALISED DEVELOPMENT

The roots of the cotton textile industry are deeply rooted in agriculture and rural India. Cotton is a critical input for textile-related industrial activity and serves as a major source of direct and indirect employment across rural regions, particularly in the indigenous handloom sector, forming a key component of spatially distributed employment systems. This paper discusses the significance of the handloom sector within the framework of regional economic
development and spatial planning in India, examining how geographic disparities and planning failures affect rural livelihoods and traditional crafts. It positions the handloom sector as the earliest and enduring embodiment of Atmanirbhar Bharat, especially in the context of decentralized economic development and local self-reliance. It highlights the sector’s historical antiquity, its pre-colonial prominence, colonial decline, and the contemporary socio-economic vulnerabilities faced by handloom artisans in underserved regions. This study traces the sector’s spatial evolution from historical prominence through colonial disruption to its present-day fragility, highlighting how planning failures and geographic disparities have undermined sustainable livelihood systems. The paper reviews past and present policy measures aimed at revitalising the sector, protecting weavers' livelihoods, and addressing regional disparities that threaten inclusive and sustainable
development. It further explores the structural resilience and competitive differentiators of the handloom sector, emphasizing the need to protect this cultural economy not only for its economic and employment potential but also as a vehicle for spatial equity, knowledge preservation, and social justice.