Sircilla dyeing industry on the brink as cotton powerlooms decline

Sircilla’s dyeing industry is in crisis as cotton weaving declines, forcing 270 of 300 units to shut. Once employing 5,000 workers, the sector now sustains barely 1,000. Weavers seek state support to revive the struggling allied textile industry.

Rajanna Sircilla: Sircilla dyeing industry has lost its glory. An allied sector to the powerloom industry, dyeing units are in crisis due to lack of work. Besides competition from textile industries and modern machinery, increase in weaving of polyester cloth on powerlooms is the main reason for dyeing units left without work.

Flourished like a colorful and allied sector to the local weaving industry, dyeing units used to export cloth to southern states as about 15,000 powrlooms used to weave cotton cloth as against 30,000 looms in Sircilla. Remaining units used to weave polyester cloth.

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28 sizing and 300 dyeing units were developed as allied sectors to cotton cloth production. The troubles of local units have begun following the modern technology adopted by the units in Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan.
Frequent crises in the polyester and cotton industry is also one of the reasons for the problem. On the other hand, production cost of the cotton has enhanced due to increase in the price of cotton and chemicals used in the dyeing process.

So, suicides among weavers increased as powerloom units were closed due to lack of work.

In order to provide employment to weavers, the previous BRS government started giving Bathukamma sarees orders to Sircilla weavers in 2017. Every year, about one crore sarees used to be produced. Now, the state government has placed sarees’ orders for Swashakti group women.

As a result, the production of cotton cloth has declined, forcing allied sectors into troubles. Since cotton is the main source for dyeing units, the sector got into crises following the decline in production.

Earlier, about 15,000 powerlooms used to engage in the production of cotton cloth. However, it has declined to 1,500 looms.

Out of 300 dyeing units, 270 were already closed and remaining units are being operated on nominal basis. Workers are getting employment for two weeks in a month.

When the industry was run successfully, workers used to earn Rs 20,000 per month. Now, they are hardly getting Rs 10,000. Similar is the situation of the sizing industry. 18 units were already closed as against 28 units used to be operated earlier. Workers are getting employment for 15 days in a month.

Earlier, about 5000 workers used to get employment in both sizing and dyeing industries. However, it has come down to 1,000. Other workers have shifted to alternative fields. In order to encourage the industry, the Gujarat and Tamil Nadu governments are giving subsidies to dyeing units. A modern dyeing unit was established in Balotra of Rajasthan.

So, Sircilla weavers wanted the government to take steps to protect the local dyeing industry.