Despite odds, temple city emerging as textile hub

Despite odds, temple city emerging as textile hub
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Highlights

The temple city is fast emerging as a textile manufacturing hub with powerloom units have sprung up in large numbers in the last one decade busy in making fabrics. According to unofficial estimates, there were only 50 powerlooms a decade ago and now the number has increased to 250. The powerloom units are largely concentrated on the outskirts of Tirupati like Yogi Mallavaram, Rajiv Colony near Au

Tirupati: The temple city is fast emerging as a textile manufacturing hub with powerloom units have sprung up in large numbers in the last one decade busy in making fabrics. According to unofficial estimates, there were only 50 powerlooms a decade ago and now the number has increased to 250. The powerloom units are largely concentrated on the outskirts of Tirupati like Yogi Mallavaram, Rajiv Colony near Auto Nagar and Third Mile area.

Highlights:

  • About 250 powerloom units are engaged in making fabrics
  • Powerloom weavers seek subsidy in power bills, loans from banks and monthly pension for retired weavers

One upon a time, handloom weavers used to make fabrics. After the improvement of technology, some families have turned into powerloom weavers. Lot of fabric making work has been outsourced to Tirupati from Chennai textile market as demand is growing for the last 20 years.

In Tamil Nadu market, there is huge demand for exporting of fabrics. Textile owners from Chennai are supplying colour yarn and other raw material to local powerloom units for making of different clothes. Weavers are making saris, chudidars and other dress materials and sending it to Chennai. However, owners of powerloom units say that they are earning only Rs 20,000 per month where as their counter parts in Tamil Nadu are earning more than Rs 35,000.

They say that the Tamil Nadu government has been supporting powerloom industry by giving subsidy in power bills and arranging loans from nationalised banks for purchase of yarn and colours. Speaking to The Hans India, a weaver B R Ealumali said that he is continuing in the profession despite facing several problems.

Another weaver M Yogananda stated that the Tamil Nadu government has been providing Rs 1,500 pension to retired weavers but there is no such provision from the AP government.

By K Nethaji

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