Manchester of Maharashtra gets weavers’ share

The weaver community was overwhelmed by the mention of Ichalkaranji in the Finance Minister’s speech and welcomed the cluster which,they say,will help them fare better in the global market.

“Once the word-class infrastructure for the cluster is set up,we would be able to attract global buyers,” said Satish Koshti,president of the Ichalkaranji Powerloom Weavers Co-operative Association.

“For several years now,we have been facing severe shortage of skilled labourers. The fund will be used to train local men. New powerloom units will be set up in several new villages on the outskirts of town. These villages will require basic infrastructure,” said Koshti.

According to Prakash Awade,former Maharashtra Textile Minister who is believed to have been on the forefront in the efforts to set up the cluster,the total cost of the project is estimated to be Rs 175 crore. 40 per cent of which (Rs 70 crore) is now granted by the Union Government under Comprehensive Cluster Development Scheme. The remaining Rs 105 crore would be raised by the industries in the cluster.

“The Rs 70 crore budget allocation will be spent on establishment of a training centre for weavers,a common facilitation centre,display halls,basic infrastructure such as uninterrupted electricity,water and raw material supply,” said Awade.

In 2005,the textile town had recived Rs 65 crore as aid from the Department of Industrial Promotion and Policy under the Industrial Infrastructure Upgradation Scheme (IIUS).