After lockdown, Bhiwandi power looms factories are suffering massive losses

Prime Minister Narendra Modi should adopt the Bhiwandi power loom Nagari which would lead to boosting of the economy rapidly, says spokesperson Sharadram Sejpal of Bhiwandi Power loom Association. 

@NarendraJourno1

Bhiwandi: The city which has often been termed as Manchester of India, Bhiwandi city which is the power loom capital is now on the brink of a massive trouble as the power loom factories have not been getting a good constant working condition ever since the government began unlocking the lockdown. 

The power loom is the lifeline of Bhiwandi city and adjoining rural areas as well, which helps sustain every small business or big business establishments to have a source of income by doing their respective work.

According to the reports, currently there are around 7 lakh power loom units which are functioning in Bhiwandi city or rural areas. Post the lockdown, the situation has worsened as workers fearful of the coronavirus had gone back to their native home towns in June and July earlier this year. The majority of labourers are migrants and engaging in the power loom industries for many years.

Also Read: Man booked in case for carrying liquor bottle and tobacco into Thane COVID hospital

Bhawarlal Chaudhary, a power loom owner while speaking to thenews21 said, “The power loom industries are facing big problems as there is a shortage of workers and no demand for cloth in the market. It seems that the industry is on its death row. The power loom units cannot be in good constant working condition until and unless the Mumbai local train functions on a daily basis. Due to the local train being shut, the chain system in which businessmen dealing in cloth used to commute to the power loom town has totally broken down. New supply and demand for cloth is also down. Outstation businessmen are unable to visit in the city as local trains are not in operation”. 

Spokesperson Sharadram Sejpal, Bhiwandi Power looms association said, “So far, 35 to 40 per cent migrant labourers have returned back to their workplace. Earlier, work in power loom units was done in two shifts. Now work is done by workers only in one shift as there is no demand for yarns and cloth and lack of workers”.  Prime Minister Narendra Modi should adopt the Bhiwandi power loom Nagari which would lead to boosting the economy rapidly, Sejpal added. 

He further said that the state government should pay attention to the electricity bill as much as possible as the industry has already drowned into lockdown and coronavirus pandemic. The government should keep certain fix prices or low prices of yarn and clothes which would help to boost Indian power loom units as compared to the China market. Even though the public does not take this matter as seriously where the products brought in by either China or India, they just want to purchase it as much as the cheapest price. 

Thousands of roadside kiosks (pan-tapari), eateries, tea stalls, hotels used to run across the Bhiwandi just because of power loom units. The lakh of ancillary small businesses have been generated because of the power loom units. These ancillary industries in turn gave employment to lakhs of people.

Bhiwandi is one of the cities of India where men need not be educated. They can earn around Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 per month quite easily. Unskilled workers also get a job in this sector and sustain their families by working here. 

Ramu Chaudhary, a contractor of power loom units said, “The machines were closed for the last six months, in wake of coronavirus and pandemic, now the maintenance of units are facing another burden of expenses after the start-up of the units. I have given advance to labourers to come back to their workplace. But labourers also cheat me often after breaking promises. 

Bhiwandi is a commercial city in the Thane district of Western Maharashtra. Bhiwandi lies in the Konkan coastal lowland with hills and streams. Bhiwandi is well-known as a major trade centre. The city is the major link between Mumbai and the rest of India through Mumbai–Agra highway. Bhiwandi has been given the nickname “the Manchester of India”.

In the early 20th century, Bhiwandi was a small town and was inhabited mainly by Maharashtrians. Most people worked in agriculture, fishing and weaving. With the introduction of electricity, the handlooms were replaced by power looms. It became a hub of the textile industry in the 1930s.

With the decline of the textile industry in Mumbai, Bhiwandi became attractive to textile companies due to the convenience for transport and 24-hour power service. The power loom of Bhiwandi is the second-largest power loom after the one in Surat. Bhiwandi produces and transports most of the Power loom for the textile industry all over India.

The increase in Bhiwandi’s population is directly or indirectly related to the power loom industry. The place is also known for its large godowns which are considered Asia’s largest.-By Narendra Gupta