The local civic body granted permission to power loom industry in non-containment zone, out of 3.5 lakhs approximately 1.5 lakh power looms open up in June
Mumbai: The permission by the Malegaon Municipal Corporation (MMC) to allow operation of power looms has brought some respite for people from Malegaon. The Malegaon power loom is the largest industry which directly employees 70 % of its 4, 71,312 adult population (as per 2011 census) .The city has approximately 3.5 lakhs power looms and nothing less than 12 thousand labourers work as daily-wagers in the industry.
Many firms have preferred to stay small due to non-availability of interest-free loan. Thus, power loom industry of Malegaon has always remained on an economic knife-edge.
The Malegaon’s power loom industry about 270 km north of Mumbai, has started its 50 % operations from this week. The significant relaxation by MMC has been allowed outside the red zone and containment areas. The local body has demarked certain areas like Maldhe Shiwar, Bismillah Baug, Abdullah Nagar, Aqsa Colony , Samaullah Nagar along with others.
Mujahid Sultan, the owner of Plain Power Loom from Malegaon said, “We have started our work with 300 labourers. It is a great relief for the power loom industry 70% of population is engaged into power loom either in manufacturing, packaging or transportation. The owners of power looms had managed to hold the labourers by paying them 3 months salaries.”
The industry has geared itself up already with available raw materials and is taking precautionary measures against coronavirus by sanitizing the machinery as well. Also, the owners have been ensuring that the labourers maintain social distancing and use mask for protection.
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Sultan added, “So far everyone is in lockdown thus requirements and demands are zero. The power loom industry imports its materials to Gujarat and Rajasthan and gets its yarn imported from Tamil Nadu, Kolhapur. It is started after a loss and is looking for retail and whole market to open then only these looms can survive.”
Mohibbullah Ansari who is in power loom industry from the year 2003, explains that COVID-19 has hit the industry badly. Since the labourers are not easily available almost all the owners have ensured that the payments are made to them amidst the lockdown.
Ansari said, “This city power loom owners does not take loan thus survival is difficult otherwise also. Due to the Coronavirus the financial set back is huge in crores of Rupees for this industry. Most of the cash liquidity is spent in last three months, and hence the move to restart power looms is a respite for both owners and labourers.”
