The Hindu : Front Page : Now, Sivakasi eyeing textile sector

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 29, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

Now, Sivakasi eyeing textile sector

S. Sundar

Following increasing competition and saturation in growth of traditional industries

SIVAKASI: With the established industries in the fireworks, match and printing sectors not matching the aspirations of new generation entrepreneurs of Sivakasi, `Kutti' Japan now looks towards to textile industry for its future growth. Industrialists are trying to bring home an Integrated Textile Park to make their dream of transforming the `fireworks town' into industrial centre a reality.

Increasing competition from outside the State and abroad, new laws and a changing lifestyle have saturated the growth of traditional industries here. First, it was the higher usage of cigarette lighters; then, it was the ban on smoking that snuffed out the local match units.

Ceiling on decibel-level and time regulation for bursting crackers stole the sound of fireworks units. The printing industry lost its sheen following restrictions on spending by candidates fighting elections and advent of flex boards.

"The textile town of Tiruppur boasts of a plan to almost double its export orders from Rs.6,000 crore to Rs.10,000 crore by 2010. But we cannot be that much certain (though the present export from Sivakasi is around Rs. 2,000 crore)," says former president of Tamil Nadu Fireworks and Amorces Manufacturers' Association, S. Maheswaran.

The match and fireworks industries that thrived on a strong workforce are now witness to exodus of workers to Tiruppur and Coimbatore. "At least 5,000 workers have left in search of better opportunities in the textile sector." The workers, especially from the younger generation, do not prefer backbreaking and tiresome work.

The Sivakasi MP, A. Ravichandran, says development of infrastructure would put Sivakasi to greater heights. The proximity to Tuticorin port and its huge expansion on implementation of Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project, likelihood of conversion of Srivilliputtur-Sivakasi-Sattur road into a national highway and the newly converted broad gauge railway line are the few projects that would auger well for Sivakasi.

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