Power cuts cripple small scale power loom units

Poor wages and a falling market seem to have prompted many traditional handloom weavers at Manamedu, Kodiyampalayam and Musiri to switch to power looms in the recent past. “Over the past one year, nearly 150 families have migrated to Nambiyampalayam in Tirupur district to work as wage labourers at the power loom industries there,” says K.V. “Beginning with just 10 power loom units, Manamedu witnessed a mushrooming of nearly 150 units in a very short span,” he says, adding “but no new unit has been set up hence.” At the moment, the power loom units in the region are given 500 units of free power by the government, which according to Ramalingam is not enough to run even two looms. Like most other rural industries, the power looms have fallen short of labour too: “These days all adults in the family have to work on the loom to make ends meet as outside labourers demand Rs.150 a day,” he says, adding “and we have to pay them whether or not there are power cuts.” In a day, their unit makes up to four dhothies and one towel, depending on the number of power cuts. “A government scheme that subsidises the rate of power loom machines and gives out lower-interest loans to poor power loom weavers, could encourage more people to stick it out,” he feels.