Autoloom weavers in Tamil Nadu to go on strike

Weavers who use autolooms in Tamil Nadu will go on strike from January 15 if they do not get higher rates for converting yarn to fabric, said the South India Autoloom Weavers Association co-ordinator Govindaraj.

The weavers were getting ₹14 for a metre of fabric they wove. Now, they get ₹10. “The textile manufacturers, who gave jobs to the weavers, reduced the charges gradually,” he said.

Of the nearly 40,000 autolooms in the State, almost 50% is used to weave cotton fabrics and another 50% for viscose fabric.

Weavers, who have integrated facilities for sizing or invested in renewable energy and did not have bank loans, are able to operate even with the reduction in conversion charges. Just about 15,000 looms are operated using wind or solar energy. The other weavers are unable to compete in the market or continue operations. They are paying the bank dues once in three months to avoid the accounts becoming non-performing assets.

The production costs have shot up due to increase in labour and electricity charges and higher bank interest rates and the conversion charges have reduced, he said. Since most of the weaving units have LT CT power connection, they are unable to purchase renewable energy from private power generators. A weaving shed with 112 KW connected load and having 10 looms used to get electricity bill for ₹4.5 lakh a month. Now it is ₹5.7 lakh, he said.

The weavers plan to stop production from January 15, 2025 if they do not have get higher charges for the fabric produced, he said.

Published - November 29, 2024 09:18 pm IST