Brochure of Vocational Training for Mentally Handicapped : Chapter XIII

Brochure of Vocational Training for Mentally Handicapped : Chapter XIII

CHAPTER XIII
TYPES OF LOOMS

There are FOUR types of LOOMS :
a) DESK LOOM b) HAND LOOM
c) PEDAL LOOM d) )AI LOOM

a. DESK LOOM :
It is a compact complete machine. It can be kept on a Desk and easily cloth can be woven by both hands by mentally handicapped adults who function under the moderate grade of intelligence.
The following articles can be made by this Desk Loom :
i) Tea Napkins ii) Table Mats, Dupatta
iii) Mats of rough cloth iv) Door Mats etc.

Comfortable weaving can be done with any fine count of yarn or thick count of yarn or even chindhi cloth etc.
It can be recommended for a Home Bound Programme, not only for the mentally handicapped adults, but also for house wives, who in their free time can work Desk Loom weaving and may earn a little extra money. “Spare Time Earning”.

b. HAND LOOM
Handloom is operated by both hands and feet. Mentally handicapped adults who function under moderate grade of intelligence but with better motor ability and sight can work handloom comfortably. It is a productive occupation.
The following articles are made in Handloom :i) Rough Dusters to swab floor
ii) Napkins or Face Towels
iii) Plate Duster for kitchen use
iv) Bed Spreads
v) Cloth by meters, curtain cloth etc.
vi) Suiting & Shirting etc. Even finer count of yarn or silk can be woven easily.
One boy or a girl may work for full day. The width of cloth may be maximum 72″ but comfortable weaving is within 40″ to 60″ width of cloth.

c. PEDAL LOOM:
Pedal loom is operated by legs (feet) only. It is simple and easy to operate. just pedal (up-down), by pressing right foot and thereafter left foot: (one foot at a time – alternately). The loom’s turn over is considerably higher than that of handloom. Even very fine count of yarn or silk/polyester etc., can be woven with ease.
Three adults may work alternately during the day. Each boy or girl may take a turn every half-an-hour to work pedal Loom. Thus the fatigue of working the pedal loom will be taken care of. Maximum width of cloth that can be woven in this pedal loom is 50″. But comfortable weaving is within 40″.
The following articles are made in Pedal Loom :i) Rough Dusters to swab floor
ii) Napkins or Face Towels
iii) Plate Dusters for kitchen use iv) Bed Spreads
v) Cloth by meters, curtain cloth etc., vi) Suiting & Shirting etc.

d. JAI LOOM :
Jai Loom is a small compact & elegant weaving machine. It is operated by one hand only. This loom is specially designed and fabricated and made for the productive occupation, for Profound & Severely mentally handicapped adults. The boy has just to turn the handle of the loom provided and the whole system of weaving will function automatically.

The width of the cloth in this loom is restricted to 30″ maximum. A team of 10 adults maximum, will operate the jai Loom under strict supervision. Very fine count of yarn or silk/polyester yarn can be woven comfortably.
JAI LOOM is the recipient of NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY AWARD from Ministry of Welfare, New Delhi, in 1991.
Articles are made :
i) Napkins ii) Suiting & Shirting
iii) Fancy cloth like Dupatta, falls
iv) Dress materials

All four types of Looms are in the JAI VAKEEL VOCATIONAL. TRAINING AND REHABILITATION CENTRE Sewri hill, Sewri Road, Bombay 400033:, in working condition, Sulabha School for Mentally Handicapped at Chembur and also in Okhla Centre, New Delhi.

DESK LOOM

SPECIFICATIONS :
a) Length – 30″ or 24″
b) Breadth – 20″ or 18″
c) Height with wire heddle frame – 20″
d) Height of body of the desk loom – 5″ to 9″ (depending upon the size of the loom)

“The law of human progress is a series of experiments in which man and institutions react upon each other for their mutual improvement and perfection.”

Indian statesman – Pherozeshah Mehta

HIGH LIGHTS
i) It is a compact complete machine

ii) It is operated by both hands only.

iii) It is a remunerative occupation for the mentally handicapped person who functions under moderate and mild grade of intelligence with better motor ability and sight. (Shuttle is passed by hand between warp threads.)

iv) It is very light in weight and requires a small space to work with. It can be easily lifted by one hand only.

v) It is operated by both hands by sitting on the floor and also it can be worked by both hands while keeping it on a small table (desk).

vi) It is completely made of wood and very easy to operate. It can be converted into a pattern loom by adding two or four more shafts (i.e, frames)

vii) Various patterns and designs of fabrics can be made.

HAND LOOM – 40″ (REED SPACE) SPECIFICATIONS
a) Length – 60″ b) Breadth – 57″
c) Height – 78″ d) Length of Slay – 86″

HIGHLIGHTS:
i) The loom is operated by both hands and feet.

ii) A remunerative occupation for persons having better Motor ability and sight, visually impaired or Mild and Border line groups of mentally handicapped.

iii) A traditional type of Hand Loom weaving machine.

iv) The complete structure of the loom is made of C.P. Teak wood, with sound base, except the “WARP BEAM” which is of steel.

v) It is comparatively a slow machine, but steady and safe in operation.

vi) One person alone can work whole day, i.e. total six and half hours of work within the span of eight hours. There is no undue strain on the operator.

vii) Finished fabric will be between 24″ to 36″ and it is automatically rolled

PEDAL LOOM – 40″ (REED SPACE) SPECIFICATIONS:
a) Length – 80″ (including the seating length of the operator) b) Breadth – 58″
c) Height – 52″
d) Length of slay – 84″

HIGHLIGHTS:
i) The machine is operated by TWO FEET only, for which TWO PEDALS are provided at the bottom of the LOOM. One pedal is to be pressed by one foot at a time.
ii) A Productive Occupation for MODERATE & MILD group of mentally handicapped persons.
iii) Steel Frame with firm base.
iv) No vibration when operated at high speed. v) Uniform spacing
vi) It maintains uniform warp tension vii) Superior quality of texture.
viii) Finished fabric will be between 24″ to 36″
ix) Silk or any fine count of yarn or Polyester yarn can be worked with equal ease.
x) A complete weaving machine. The finished fabric is automatically rolled.
xi) It looks elegant.
xii) Shirting, Suiting, Dress materials, fine cloth, Floor swabs, Face Towels, ordinary towels etc. can be woven.
xiii) Maintenance expenses just bare minimum.
JAI LOOM – 30″ (REED SPACE) SPECIFICATIONS :
a) Length – 40″ b) Breadth – 56″
c) Height – 50″ d) Length of Slay – 69″
e) An automatic weaving machine

HIGHLIGHTS :
i) Jai Loom is operated by ONE HAND only, by just turning the handle of the wheel attached to it.
ii) A Productive Occupation for the SEVERELY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS.
iii) Face Towels, kitchen cloths, plain cloth etc. can be woven. iv) Steel Frame with sound base
v) No vibration when operated at a high speed
vi) Finished fabric will be between 20″ to 26″ in width vii) Uniform spacing, no mark on the weft
viii) It maintains a uniform warp tension
ix) A complete weaving machine with one-to-one gear
x) A highly Productive Loom.
xi) Silk or Fine Count of Yarn or Polyester yarn can be weaved with equal ease.
x) Finished fabric is automatically rolled
xi) It is a compact loom, looks elegant and occupies minimum space.

SPECIAL OPERATION INFORMATION :
“Jai Loom”, is to be operated by a team of SEVERELY/PROFOUNDLY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED persons under strict supervision. The team may consist of 8 to 9 boys with one supervisor. Compared to any conventional loom, the operation of Jai Loom is very simple. The team (8!9 persons) will sit opposite to the loom an a bench. The Supervisor will call one person, at a time to operate the Loom. The person will come and sit comfortably in front of the loom on a seat provided and just turn the handle of the wheel in clock-wise direction by his right hand, the other hand will rest on the rod of the loom specially provided for this purpose.
Each person will operate the Loom near-about a minute, the second person will operate the loom for a minute or so, the third one and fourth one and so on till the last person of the TEAM completes his turn. By this time 10-12 minutes will have passed. (The same person will get his chance to operate after 10-12 minutes or so. Thus the fatigue level of the person is taken care of).
The same sequence will continue till the allotted time of 30 minutes. The Supervisor should see that the loom works within the limits of 100 to 110 picks per minute. (this is to start with) which will not tend to give any undue strain on the operator).
“Civilisation is a living spirit and not a mechanical apparatus.” Indian Philosopher – S. Radhakrishnan

A BRIEF WRITE-UP ON THE INVENTION OF JAI-LOOM
(JAI LOOM is an invention by Mr. P. K. Roy, former, Principal; of ‘Jai Vakeel Vocational Training and Rehabilitation Centre’ along with his colleague, Mr. D.P. Nemane, a weaver by profession. Both were members of the staff of the Centre. They were recipients of National Technology award from the Ministry of Welfare New Delhi).
Throughout the ages, the mentally handicapped have been the worst sufferers at home, in society and the environment they live in. The plight of the severely mentally handicapped is even more sad and pathetic. When they come of age at 18 years, there is absolutely no occupation for them, though physically they are well-built. it is a stupendous task to train them for providing an opportunity for employment in safe work. Late Mrs. Jai H. Vakeel worked hard for years to help them. It was found that severely mentally handicapped persons as well as restless children could concentrate on repetitive work. They could turn the wheel of a winding charkha well. Many of them could work a handloom, and could follow simple instructions, such as, ‘come here, go there, please keep this thing on the table’, etc., etc.
The handloom weaving department and Ambar Charkha section are the productive units in Jai Vakeel Vocational Training and Rehabilitation Centre. This is a sheltered workshop where all grades of mentally handicapped are trained and employed to earn a living. They are able to perform the repetitive work of spinning Amber Charkha by turning the wheel or making warping bobbins by turning the wheel of a winding charkha. These are the safest vocations within the limits of their ability.
It was thought of devising a loom which could be operated by one hand just by turning the handle of the wheel, as is done in the Amber Charkha or in warping winding charkha. The slay which is connected to the flywheel, does not move by leg pedal as it does in a pedal !oom, but moves by turning the handle of the wheel by one hand. The handle is connected to the gears by a rod through the fly wheel. After several months of patient trial and error at last the loom was invented and almost perfected. We christened the loom, ‘JAI LOOM’ in rnemory of Late Mrs. Jai H. Vakeel, the Founder Director, School For Children in Need of Special Care. Lions Club of Byculla sponsored the Jai Loom and donated Rs.10,000/
Jai Loom was inaugurated on July 4th 1990. Thereafter, the Ministry of Welfare, New Delhi was informed about the invention of Jai Loom, through the District Social Welfare Officer, Bombay and the Directorate of Social Welfare, Pune, in September 1990. We demonstrated the working of Jai Loom on February 4th 1991 at Blind Relief Association, New Delhi. The Jai-Loom was judged on its effectiveness towards increased productivity and employment potential on the basis of the following criteria :
i) Appearance
ii) Efficiency of performance
iii) Productive capacity
iv) Ease of operation of the Loom – fully operable by just the rotation of the wheel turned by the handle attached to it. (The )t. Secretary of the Ministry of Welfare and one expert from I.I.T. Delhi tested the loom)
v) Minimum space occupied by the loom.
vi) Quality of the cloth.
Ministry of Welfare declared the National Technological Award for 1991 jointly to Mr. P. K. Roy and Mr. D.P. Nemane. The Award Function was held at Siri Fort, New Delhi. The then President of India, Mr. Venkatraman presented the award on 17.3.91 to Mr P. K. Roy & Mr. D.P. Nemane.

“A teacher can never truly teach unless he is still learning himself. A lamp can never light another lamp, unless it continues to burn its own flame.”

…… Rabindranath Tagore