The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Government intervention sought

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Sunday, May 11, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Government intervention sought

L. Renganathan

To revive the fortunes of textile industry in Karur

Lost hours: A view of deserted work hall at a textile export unit in Karur.

KARUR: Adverse economic and market conditions helped create a temporary bond among the various sectors of textile industry in Karur that rose as one to down shutters recently to highlight their plight that centred on a slew of issues both domestic and international. The prevailing impasse is hurting both the exporters and the labourers alike.

Despite several pleas from the industry to the governments issues such as the Rupee appreciation, yarn price rise, export of waste cotton, service tax net and the like have remained unattended for quite some time now.

“While the economic downtrend in the industry due to the listed vagaries is pinching, what really is hurting is the attitude of the governments that have scarcely paid any attention to our needs and requirements. We have been seeking just a mitigation of our woes but our repeated pleas have not reached the governments,” rues a leading exporter, who wish to remain anonymous for obvious reasons.

In particular the “abnormal” yarn price rise, wide service tax net and export of cotton have upset the applecart of the exporters who could not competitively price their produce in the international market. The result is loss of precious orders and subsequently loss of jobs for the thousands of unskilled and skilled labourers in Karur district.

“We have been crying hoarse over the past one year or so. None in the government cared about our plight. From our side we also tried to address the issue internally by evolving a dialogue among the various stakeholders but even that failed to resuscitate our fortunes,” observes another exporter.

The badly affected Karur District Weaving and Knitting Factory Owners’ Association gave a call for three-day strike which the Karur Textile Manufacturer Exporters’ Association joined in support of the cause.

In fact all textile activity came to a standstill recently that brought a temporary unity among the numerous allied sectors.

In fact, the Tamil Nadu Textile Forum a conglomerate of associations has announced a one-day token state-wide shut down on May 16 to highlight their grievances. Karur-based industries have planned to join the stir on that day too.

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