Powerloom Clusters of India

West specially the Britain and later US had enjoyed supremacy in world textile and clothing trade for over two centuries but now the shift is taking place from the West (US and EU countries) to the East particularly China, India and Pakistan. This change has been necessitated in view of the implementation of free-trade policies in the world under WTO from 1st January, 2005. In the last eight years since 2000, cotton consumption in US, EU and Japan has been decreasing fast while it has been increasing very fast in China and South Asian countries like India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Presently, China, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh share about 50 percent of US imports of cloth and textiles. China has lion share of over 35 percent while India and Pakistan share is small but better than other countries. India and Pakistan have great potential as both produce large cotton crops and can exploit their resources to increase their share in textile exports to US. In 2007, Pakistan was the second largest exporter of clothing and textiles to US.

Small countries like Vietnam, Thailand and Sri Lanka are increasing their exports to US. This is the trend of increase of total US imports from south Asian countries which clearly shows shift of finished goods from the East to the West. Exports of textile and clothing from China, India, Pakistan and other small Asian countries is increasing substantially. Pakistan's exports of textile goods and cloth to EU was US $3.965 billions in 2004-05, US $4.108 billions in 2005-06, US $4.443 billions in 2006-07. China's economy is second to US in the world and in next 20-25 years, China may occupy top position surpassing US. The present economic and financial conditions in US indicate that its economy may face bankruptcy if the situation deteriorated further. Among EU countries, Germany, Italy and UK are economically and financially stronger. In next quarter century, China would lead the world in trade and finance with India, Pakistan and Bangladesh as its strong allies. Different types and varieties of fabrics are used world wide in different applications such as woven fabrics, knitted fabrics, non-woven fabrics and technical textile products. Recent studies have highlighted that fabric weaving alone expends around 28 million tones of fibre every year. It is predicted that global production will grow by 25% between 2002 and 2012; to reach more than 35 million tones and Asia is one of the key regions in future growth.

The top ten major importers of powerloom fabrics and made-ups of 100% cotton are USA, UK, Germany, Italy, Bangladesh, France, Greece, UAE, Sri Lanka, and Spain.

History of weaving looms can be traced back to 17th century. The first power loom was invented by Edmund Cartwright in 1785.

The East India Company established its office in Calcutta in 1601 and started trading in local as well as in exports specially to Great Britain. When the British established their companies, India had developed its textiles sectors and was also exporting cloth to China, Afthanistan, Central Asian states. Trade of cloth started between Britain and India and it continued to grow till middle of 18th. Century, when the Britain spinning and ginning machines were invented which boosted textile industry. The British discouraged promotion of cloth in India and Indian raw cotton was exported to UK for processing. Only in 1854, the first spinning mill of India was established in Bombay by a Parsi entrepreneur and the first jute mill was established in Calcutta by one English in 1885 and thereafter series of textile mills were established in Bolmbay and in other parts of India.

Originally Power looms were with shuttle, and they were very slow. But as the industrial demands for faster production accelerate, faster looms without shuttle came in use in early part of 20th century. As developments and innovations take place, various types of looms were developed for faster production. Today, Air-jet, Water-jet, Rapier and other computer operated looms are used to maximize production of special materials.

The decentralized powerloom sector is the lifeline of Indian Textile Industry. India is having approximately 19.42 lakhs of powerlooms weaving almost 19,000 million meters of fabric, and provides employment to more than 7 million workers over 430,000 units. Although the growth of power loom industry was slow initially; it has started gearing up now. Number of shuttle less looms has augmented to almost 50,000 and from this about 35,000 looms are working in the decentralized sector. The sector accounts for 63% of the total cloth production in the country.

The fibre and yarn-specific configuration of the textile industry includes almost all types of textile fibres, natural fibres such as cotton, jute, silk and wool, synthetic, man-made fibres such as polyester, viscose, nylon, acrylic and polypropylene.

Indian textiles, handlooms and handicrafts are exported to more than 100 countries, with the US being the largest buyer. Readymade garments (RMG) are the largest export segment, accounting for almost 41 per cent of total textile exports. RMG exports from India were worth US$ 9.06 billion in 2007-08. RMG exports from India were worth US$ 8.18 billion during April-February 2008-09, as compared to US$ 6.89 billion in the corresponding period of 2007-08

As per the latest figures available with the Ministry of Textiles, India exported textiles worth US$ 17.62 billion during April-February 2008-09, a 7.08 per cent increase over the corresponding period last year.

Most of the Power loom units are concentrated in semi urban, or rural area. Among all, Maharashtra has highest number of powerlooms amounting to approximately 8 lakhs of powerloom, Tamilnadu is second with 5 lakh units, and Gujarat ranks third with 4to4.5 lakh worth of power looms. March09 lakh. in employmen in Change 09 (in%) April during employment in change percentage monthly Average EmploymentHandloom/Powerloomin in Lakh support various in also but contribute12million new job to going is industry within textile the survey recent just a per As agriculture. not like industries jobs generates that textile employment Indian the by directly contributed Ind is industry. share market export the of 30%

Powerlooms in

Numbers the in set-up Powerlooms of No. ian textile industry is also the largest industry when it comes to to comes it when industry largest the also is industry textile ian Indirect Direct 3.26 0.23 April09 1,000,000 1,500,000 2,000,000 2,500,000 500,000

last sixyearsIndia in 0 o drc ad otat okr drn April during workers contract and direct of t 2002-03

2003-04 1,692,737

April s in Indias in by2010 itself

No.Powerlooms of 2004-05 1,836,856 –

Year 0.08 0.57 April June09 2005-06 1,902,953

- 2006-07 1,943,892 May09 2.38 0.34

2007-08 1,990,308

2,082,895 .

April - June09 2.29 0.49 –

June over March over June

–

ue over June

Change in employment of exporting units over March 09 in lakh.

April 09 April – May 09 April – June 09

0.25 0.35 0.57

In handloom/powerloom sectors export units 0.57 lakh jobs have been added during the period April – June over March 09.

(Source http://labourbureau.nic.in)

Table 1: Powerloom Clusters in India

S.No. State Name of the Cluster & No. of Employment Turnover Exports Category units Person/family* Cr./Annum Cr./Annum Andhra Nagari, Horizontal 24000 500 Pradesh Guntur Warangal, Horizontal <1000 <1000 0-10 Sirsilla 20000 15000 * 50-60 Gujarat Kalol, Horizontal 100- 1000-10000 0-10 M 500 Surat 1000- >10000 100-1000 M 10000 Gandhinagar Chhatral Haryana Bhiwani <100 1000-10000 100-1000 L Panipat 5702 34892 405.7 Karnataka Belgaum 10-100 L Bangalore, Horizontal 100-1000 Gadag Betgeri, 100- <1000 Horizontal 500 Kerala Ernakulam M Mallappuram, M Horizontal Palakkad M Faizlure M Madhya Burhanpur, Horizontal 9890 Pradesh Jabalpur, Horizontal Ujjain Maharashtra Ichalkaranji, 244 Horizontal Malegaon, Horizontal 7500 100000 4900 Madhavnagar, Horizontal Orissa Dhenkanal Ganjam, Horizontal 1000-10000 0-10 M Balasore, Horizontal 1000-10000 0-10 M Punjab Amritsar , Horizontal 200 1500 400 50-60 Rajasthan Kishangarh, 400 5555 Horizontal Beawar 60 950 24 Jaipur 25 300-400 50 Bhilwara, Horizontal 159 45-50 Tamil Nadu Surampatti, Erode 160 8000 Karur, Horizontal Bhavani 160 Uttar Mau, Vertical 40000 240000 700 Pradesh Banda , Vertical Kanpur 300 3000 300 40 Gorakhpur, Vertical Jhansi Varanasi , Vertical Meerat 27500 looms Bihar Bhagalpur 1200 3000 800 West Bengal Nadia Ranaghat 500- 1000-10000 10-100 10000

The major challenges which are now facing by textile industry are :-

Stiff competition from developing countries; especially China

Pricing pressure

Locational disadvantage

International labour and environmental laws

Table 2: Opportunities and Challenges Powerloom Clusters

Opportunity Beawar Bhavani Bhagalpur Kanpur Ichalkaranji 1 Scope of Domestic Potential for high Very good export High market Growing market market growth potential for home scope for the domestic and furnishing value Technical international added made ups in Textile markets. the selected Products overseas countries 2 Technology can be Up-gradation Product Scope for Untapped improved & upgraded technologies diversification like diversification export that of home of product markets furnishing value added made up 3 Scope of product Improvement of Very large market Higher capacity Huge scope diversification quality and for branded silk for product utilization decrease in products as the diversification rejection present high growth of retail sale in India 4 Scope of domestic Product and High labour cost in Schemes / Scope for market quality developed benefits of sub- diversification countries Government for contract Modernisation / work from Upgradation large units

5 Demand for Technology can be To supply Network export market improved or fabric to catering to upgraded by growing bulk orders implementing Govt Readymade by schmes Garment distributing Industry in the work Kanpur by among the diversification cluster's of products to units Shirting /

suiting

6 Scope of product Better power Abundant diversification supply & scope to facilities in supply to Industrial multinationals Areas, Textile shops set up park in India

7 Using better raw material, trained labour can produce better quality 8 Brand building of Bhagalpur silk value added product in the domestic as well international market Challenges Globalization Govt. policies Threat from silk Change in Entry of 1 methods and products from china market trend multinational regulations and Mulberry silk products from in domestic Karnataka and markets other southern states 2 Import of cheaper Power supply Absence of Increase in cost Stiff Chinese fabrics problems protection under competition of production WTO from other countries like China, Indonesia, Thailand, Turkey, Bangladesh and Pakistan

3 Unhealthy price Not getting Weavers are day Increasing Non-tariff competition proper price for by day taking up market barriers good quality other profession competition from products due to inadequate developed weaving job and countries. wages 4 Production of wider Mid-brokers Dependency on Defence / Slow width fabrics started problems Agent for market Government improveme in other parts/clusters sourcing policy nt in quality of the country changes to meet the

internation al standards.

5 Shifting of Not getting co- Migration of man Slow investments to operation from power adoption to Minerals Industry powerloom co- fast changing operative fashion societies trends. 6 Conflicts between local labour unions 7 Not getting prompt payment from local and export parties 8 Difficulties from the local electricity department officials 9 Problems in to get loans and financial assistance

Opportunity Erode Nagari Amritsar Bhilwara Kishangarh 1 Availability of If the entrepreneur Vast installed New markets Scope of utilize the central capacity of all as well as modern government schemes product type of most exports can be machineries, and modernize the modern weaving tapped scope diversification, looms it will lead to a machines of development scope for cost good manufacturing Improvement in new products. deduction hub of cotton fabrics Large domestic designs, market.

weavers Availability of

sub contracts training in the from big

cluster manufacturers due to globalization 2 Availability of Invest in further Scope of Variety of cloth is Phasing out easy finance manufacturing process upgrading the being quota like TUFS for like printing & technology manufactured to restriction modernization, Embroidery and value through various meet the credit add to the fabrics bring schemes like requirement of guaranteed good scope to the TUFS, RMG units fund schemes investors Workshed scheme 3 Growing If the Master weavers Trained and High labour Scope of form the association experience staff cost in market and start the getting yarn needs short Term developed consortium for Raw Training countries demand, from the direct material purchase & unexplored Finished goods its lead manufacturers to a good development market of this cluster segment, availability of Govt assistance for market development

4 If entrepreneur attracts Scope of Govt. technical Using better the skilled workers & getting yarn institute available raw material, Technician from Tamil from the direct to fulfil the trained Nadu , they may able to manufacturers requirement of manpower, can make a good fabrics the Industry produce better and profits quality 5 Textile commissioner at Capacity of the By working for Nagari is providing entrepreneur to more number training facilities to the produce at lowest of days, the weavers ultimately this cost to compete production can will lead to make a any market. be increased skilled weaver and economics of scale can be achieved Growing If the power 6 domestic and tariffs are International lowered the markets. cluster can be become price competitive 7 Huge scope for Availability of product sub contracts diversification from big manufacturers due to globalization 8 Scope to supply to multinational shop/ branded garment manufactured set up in India Challenges Lack of The entrepreneur fail to New cluster’s Shifting Strong local 1 modernization, modernize the looms, developing faster recourses to labour force the other clusters in union activities the marble attracted by Tamil Nadu will industry, this creating labour better wage in definitely catch the has emerged other fields market of Chennai & problem during the Banglore 1990s

Labour forces At present 12 hours Higher rate of Shortage of If the price are attracted in working VAT in the State better wages in labour as compared to competition other fields. other states. persists for Rajasthan 4%, HP 1%, MP 2%, long, it can Delhi 2% pose a threat to cluster survival 2 Associations Common problem i.e Higher power Fluctuation in Absence of role are limited .rupee appreciation cost in the Dollar affected protection cluster (Rs the export under WTO 4.80) when after 2004 compare to other competitive states like HP (Rs 3.30 / unit) and higher power cuts of 4-5 hours/day

3 Easy entry of One point production Insolvency of The power tariff Production of new system followed in the Dyeing, of State is a wider width entrepreneurs china so the cost of processing and bottleneck. . fabrics started production is low, in printing units in Tamilnadu, in other india it is not followed the cluster Himanchal parts/clusters Pradesh, of the country Karnataka,Mahar astra is having low power tariffs due to which the powerloom units are facing problems 4 Lack of Other Asian countries Strong believe The big Discrepancy on linkages like ness of players/multinatio single market between SMEs China,Bangladesh,Paki individual nal companies stan & Srilanka are ownership are selling their manufacturing the instead of products below textile products at low group which is cost. cost preventing to obtain the various Govt.of India schemes like Group Workshed and SITP

5 WTO No tax privilege Import of cheaper implication i.e. to the fabric free trade from powerloom 01.01.2005, sector and Competition imposing 4% from the entry tax for countries like raw material China and which is Pakistan procured from outside the states 6 Shift towards Seasonal buyers market fluctuations (-1’ from seller at winter & 48’ market at summer)

7 Competition with the other clusters like ludhiana, panipat and bhilwara

8 Lower technology upgradation due to lower subsidy sealing limit (8 lakhs) of 2nd hand imported looms under the 20% MMS of Govt. of India which is normally preferred by the entrepreneurs for jacquard designs

Opportunity Jaipur Meerat Malagaon Burhanpur Mau 1 Large Domestic Huge scope for It’s an TUF scheme Export market product opportunities to available for friendly Govt. diversification make a modernization. policies and consortium for Up to 25% machineries raw material capital subsidy banks to over & 5 % interest come the daily subsidy price fluctuations. available for To produce new modern defect free high plant from M. quality finished P. State Govt. fabric by adopting quality Product management Diversification systems like ISC Scope for etc. reduction in cost of production through bulk purchase of raw material s/ chemicals

Scope for value added production

2 Technology can be Network catering to Utilization R&D Exploration Encouraging improved and bulk order by facilities at power through export industries upgraded distributing the service station market. policy of work among the Govt. for cluster’s unit Consortium SMES approach to common marketing.

Connecting sellers,buyer meet.

3 Scope of Product Brand Building for Value addition by Various Govt. Technology diversification traditional fabric starting good Schemes are and Quality power processing available to up-gradation houses as CFC access finance in the cluster for development & Modernization 4 Scope for Export Reduction in cost of To adopt modern Design market production through high tech tech development bulk looms to meet and Product purchase/depot of large volume diversification Raw material/dyes export orders and chemicals.

5 Scope for value Huge scope of Exploration of added products, product new local and reduction in cost of diversification export market dyeing by Scope for sub- modernization of contract work dyeing System, for from large units training intervention among SME’s,

Government intervention, C.F.C. Like spg.Unit, process and sizing, export house and common product display center/ show room, utilization of Government Schemes. 6 Optimum utilization Network catering of NITRA to bulk orders by distributing the work among the cluster’s units 7 Utilisation of low rate of import duty on second hand shuttleless looms Consortium for institutional finance Technology upgradation through TUF’s, MWS etc 8 Untapped domestic and international market under the WTO regime Export promotion through PDEXCIL Consortium to meet common marketing activity for large volume order Growing domestic and international market Abundant scope to supply multinational shops set up in India 9 Requirement of technical expert to run modern machines Challanges 1 Globalisation Entry of Non availability of Lack of Competition multinational in quality high modernization with China domestic markets. speed high tech & technology looms at low cost up gradation and other in our country Lack of linkages and countries. mutual trust among SME s

2 Import of cheaper Weavers are not Non tariff barriers Poor quality Decrease of Chinese fabrics united due to caste from developed manufacturing demand for problem countries. practice. saree Entry of multinational domestic market. Stiff competition from countries. 3 Unhealthy price Non up gradation of Poor quality of Poor Competition competition weaver’s skill/ loom poor supply maintenance & with other may affect the house keeping powerloom diversification of increase clusters and product, Non up product cost. Chinese gradation of products process Technology may also affect sustainability

4 Production of wider Non up gradation of Threat of un- width fabrics started technology may employment in other parts/clusters also affect through all of of the country sustainability a sudden modernizatio n of machineries 5 Shifting of No any Technical Slow Competition investments to other support from improvement in from other Industry anywhere quality to meet cluster the international standard

6 Stiff competition Slow adoption to Non up from mills fast changing gradation of fashion trends weaver’s skill/ loom may affect the product diversification of product 7 Low or Nil margins Non up amongst tiny gradation of entrepreneurs may process affect sustainability technology may also affect sustainability 8 Vanishing of traditional art.

9 Non exploration to new market on systematic basis 10 Higher cost of product in comparison with other cluster

Interventions in Powerloom Sector

Beawar Bhavani Bhagalpur Kanpur Ichalkaranji Year of 1978 Intervention Implementing RIICO PDEXCIL, Powerloom Regional BTRA Agency Textiles Service office of the (PSC) Committee, Centre Textile Power Loom Committee, Service Powerloom Center Service centre

Donor Bank, Beawar Central Govt State Govt. Government State and Agency Powerloom of India, Central Govt Association Ministry of Textiles Technical NABL & Bihar institute Northern India Institution international of silk & Textile agency RVA, textile, Research Netherlands Central Silk Association Board, (NITRA), Weavers Uttar Pradesh Service Textile Centre Technology Institute, Government Polytechnic

Erode Nagari Amritsar Bhilwara Kishangarh Year of 1980 1984, 1992 Intervention Implementing Powerloom The Regional Govt I.T.I. Agency Service Office of the Govt. Centre Textile Women’s Commissioner I.T.I, Bhilwara Donor Govt Of India Govt.of India, Ministry of Agency Ministry of Textiles Govt. Textile of India Technical Atlas Lab Technical Punjab MLV Textile This is a Institution institution Institute of Engineering major (Textile Textile College, deterrent to specialization) Technology, technology is not INIFD Northern India up gradation available in Textile in the this area Research, cluster Association

Jaipur Meerut Malegaon Burhanpur Mau Year of March/Sept 1976 Intervention 2010 Implementing Machinery O/o.Tx.C., Powerloom Agency Manufacturer PDEXCIL Service Centre /TXC Office/Textile Committee/P DEXCIL Donor M/c Govt. Textile Agency manufacturer Commissioner, s /Powerloom Government of units/ India Technical Technology NITRA testing facilities Institution upgradation for checking quality, training cources

The Powerloom Development & Export Promotion Council (PDEXClL) set up by the Ministry of Textiles in 1995 has been making constant endeavors to develop the powerloom industry and to promote exports of powerloom textiles. The Council has been organizing Buyer - Seller meets for the domestic as well as export markets in addition to participation in national and international fairs to promote the exports of powerloom textiles. The Council has been facilitating modernization and quality improvement in the industry through seminars & workshops. The PDEXCIL has also been actively working as interface between the Govt. and the industry on various policy related matters.

Technical Institution

Power Loom Development Export Promotion Council (PDEXCIL), Powerloom Service Centre, District Industries Centre, Deputy Development Officer (Textile) Office, Textile Technology Institute, Government Polytechnic, Directorate of Handlooms & Textiles office, Small Industries Corporation, Industrial Consultants Northern India Textile Research Association (NITRA) Textile Committee The Office Of The Textile Commissioner Indian National Institution Of Fashion Designing (INIFD) Textile Engineering College Govt I.T.I. Govt. Women’s I.T.I. Institute of silk & textile,

Financial Institution

Corporation, Bank State bank of India Visya Bank Indian Bank Mercantile Bank State Co-operative bank Industrial Investment Corporation Ltd UCO Bank Syndicate Bank Bank of India Bank of Baroda Central Bank Maharashtra Bank Janta Co-operative Dena Bank Urban Co-operative Union Bank Sangli Bank United Western Bank Sanmati Co-operative Bank Canara bank Handloom Export Promotion Council (HEPC) National Small Industries Corporation Small Industries Development Bank Of India Industrial Development Bank Of India State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, Oriental Bank of Commerce Canara Bank Allahabad Bank Bank of Maharashtra Union Bank UTI Bank Dena Bank

Association

District Power loom Association, Laghu Udyog Sangh Beawar, RIICO Rajasthan Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Organization Powerloom Weavers Association Shawl club (India) Textile Manufacturing Association (TMA District Small Industries Association Synthetic Weaving Mills Association Chamber of Commerce and Industries Sulzer weaving Mills Association Textile processing association Regional Office of the Textile Commissioner Association of Powerloom Modernisation Powerloom Action Committee Yarn Merchants Association Cloth merchant Association Ready Made Garment Association Industrial Co-operative Association Ltd Computer Added Textile Design Center, District Handloom & Handicraft Office Power loom Development & Export Promotion Council Power loom Weavers Co-op Federation.

The Textile and Apparel supply chain

Interventions in Powerloom Sector

Shuttleless weaving looms are up to three times more efficient than shuttle looms, but the penetration of modern shuttleless loom is very less. In 2001, there were some 27,000 shuttleless cotton looms in Indonesia, 21,000 in Thailand and 10,000 in India. In world share of shuttleless looms India ranked 9th. Following chart shows comparison of shuttleless loom proportion of India with other countries.

Therefore the Government of India, Ministry of Textiles had devised the strategy for modernization of the powerloom sector. The National Textile Policy 2000 (NTxP-2000), recognizing the criticality of the weaving sector to the entire textile industry and its export thrust, has laid emphasis on the adoption of appropriate technology in the decentralized sector and envisaged action for its rapid modernization. The objective is to aim for induction of 60,000 shuttle less looms up to the end of 2007 in the decentralized powerloom sector which will lead to a quantum leap in technology upgradation.

The industry is very happy that the government has brought in many schemes to modernise the textile industry like TUFS (Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme), TCIDS (Textile Centre Infrastructure Development Scheme), CLCS (Credit Linked Capital Subsidy), SITP (Scheme for Integrated Textile Park), Group Workshed Scheme, NCUTE (Nodal Centre for Upgradation of Textile Education). These schemes can be extended and awareness can be brought among the industry to utilize the schemes.

The Union Budget 2001 gives a further impetus to this trend by allocating Rs.10 crores to set up "Integrated Apparel Parks" to enable the dereserved garment units to modernise. Also, to set up 50,000 shuttleless looms and to convert 2.5 lakh traditional looms to automatic ones, the provision under the technology upgradation fund scheme (TUFS) is raised from Rs.50 crores to Rs.200 crores

To develop the power loom units within our catchment’s area so that it can continue to dominate the domestic market & can develop strongly in exports by evaluating its advantages & securing its shortcomings.

Critical Services Required for powerloom

Human Resource Development – Training

Regular training courses on pre-weaving and weaving technology, fabric design, machine maintenance and other local needs to weavers and loom owners to acquire, improve and update their skills in line with the latest and appropriate technology in the sector.

Short duration courses for quality checkers and production supervisors on different type of fabric defects, methods of mending such defects and methods of prevention.

Assistance to trainees in their placement in the industry or for setting up of their own units, and maintain contact with them.

Incentives from the State Governments and Facilitation or other suitable accommodation for outstation trainees.

Quality Testing

Reliable textile testing services for checking quality parameters to power loom and allied sectors through our testing laboratory (if available).

Guidance and Consultancy

Loom modernisation, design and product development, improvement in quality and productivity, cost reduction through minimization of waste etc.

Repair and preventive maintenance of looms, accessories and preparatory machinery.

On-site consultancy to on a felt-need basis, in respect of production and process management.

Design Development, Exchange,Warehousing and Commercilisation

Contemporary and demand-oriented designs, via in-house skills with the help of CAD/CAM system (if available).

A bank of designs and motifs, from internal and external sources and through networking with National Design Centre (NDC).

Local design development by tapping local and innovative design skills.

Marketing Support

Local trade expositions, organized by the industry and trade association(s).

Participation of the local sector in export promotion programmes, in national & international trade fairs, buyer-seller meets, trade delegations/sales-cum-study teams, directly and through the Export Promotion Councils.

Promotion of the use of information technology and e-commerce as a marketing tool.

Coordination and Facilitation

With all concerned institutions, including financial institutions, for a common approach to the development of the sector.

For the transmission of the concerns and problems of the sector to the relevant authorities.

For collectivisation of interests, through the formation of co-operatives, local self-help action groups etc. to enhance access to credit, inputs and markets. Implementation of Government Programmes/Schemes

Special development programmes in the decentralized powerloom sector, viz. Programme for modernisation of weaving capacities by induction of 2.5 lakh semi automatic/automatic looms in the decentralised sector, as Implementing Agency. TUFS, through appropriate awareness campaigns and support services, in respect of choice of technology, project formulation and compliance with banking requirements and project implementation.

Welfare scheme for the powerloom weavers, viz., group insurance scheme, workshed scheme etc.

Review Committee Meeting of Nitra PLSCS

Review Committee Meeting of PLSC Managers are being held at NITRA under the Chairmanship of Director NITRA: Quarterly review committee meeting of all PLS centres are being held at NITRA.

Due to the changes in the international scenario on the implementation of WTO agreement on textile industry, our country is facing some implications. We need to prepare our self to meet the challenges of global competition by increasing the productivity & by improving quality of our products.

The powerloom sector occupies a pivotal position in the Indian textile industry. Though current growth of this sector has been restricted by technological obsolescence, fragmented structure, low productivity and low-end quality products, in future Technology would play a lead role in this sector and will improve quality and productivity levels. Innovations would also be happening in this sector, as many developed countries would be innovating new generation machineries that are likely to have low manual interface and power cost. Indian textile industry should also turn into high technology mode to collect the benefits of scale operations and quality.

To reap benefits of these developments Indian powerloom industry has to prepare itself for drastic technological changes and will have to focus on area such as Technology upgradation: modernization of Power loom Service Centres and testing facilities; Clustering of facilities to achieve optimum levels of production; Welfare schemes for ensuring a healthy and safe working environment for the workers in future.

Sources :

DS – a. Bhagalpur, b. Beawar, c. Amritsar, d. Erode, e. Kishangarh, f. Mau, g. Nagari, h. Bhavani, i. Bhilwara, j. Burhanpur, k. Jaipur, l. Ichalkaranji, n. Kanpur, n. Malegaon, o. Meerat

Indian Textile Industries Emerging SMEs of India Textile Confederation of India Textile India http://www.citiindia.com http://www.smallindustriesindia.com/clusteres/unido/methcludata.htm#basic Office of Textile Commission R&D Research Unido SIDO MSME Foundation Office of Powerloom Dev Council Powerloom Produc Dev Sector Clusterkraft Thomex.com AP Online PDEXCIL Sitra