Study Group To Look Into Woes Of Maharashtra Weaving Sector

The Maharashtra government will set up of a study group to look into challenges faced by the state’s weaving sector and recommend changes to the state’s new textile policy.

Textile Minister Chandrakant Patil made the announcement in the Maharashtra assembly while also adding that the government would issue a government resolution to set up the study group soon.

“In Maharashtra, after agriculture, weaving looms are one of the biggest contributors to employment in the state and so weaving factories should get more support,” the Minister said.

There are three weaving hubs in Maharashtra namely Bhiwandi, Ichalkaranji and Malegaon all of which have a large number of weaving looms.

“We will offer resources for the group to visit these hubs. In case of electric subsidy, we will take up the issue with the energy as well as finance ministries,” he stated.

Patil informed there were around 1.27 million weaving looms in the state, which accounted for 50 percent of looms in the country.

“He further added that eighty percent of the looms operating in these three hubs are very old technologies and so can produce only basic textiles,” ToI reported.

According to Patil, these weaving factories are providing direct or indirect employment to around three million people in Maharashtra, while also generating a big revenue for the government.