Over 13 lakh weavers in Assam affected leading to a loss of Rs 130 crore

Lockdown-hit textile sector gives SOS call

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The textile industrial sector in Assam has sounded an SOS (Save Our Soul) call to the State government to bail it out around 13 lakh weavers from the loss they have been incurring during the over 40 days COVID-19 lockdown. During the lockdown after the anti-CAA movement, the industry has incurred over Rs 130-crore loss so far, around Rs 100 crore in Sualkuchi alone. Those associated with the industry feel that tougher days await them after the lockdown.

Talking to The Sentinel, Dr. Nihar Ranjan Kalita, Head of the Department of Economics of SMBS College and secretary of Sualkuchi Tat Sipini Unnayan Samiti, said, "Around 15,000 weavers have been working in Sualkuchi alone. With their helpers and migrant weavers, around 30,000 weavers are involved in the industry in the textile town, directly or indirectly. The industry also flourishes in the neighbouring areas of Sualkuchi like Bongshor, Gandhomou, Tokradiya, Ramdiya, Subansa, Bamundi, Srihatii etc. During the lockdown, the weavers of all these areas have been sitting idle and their products are lying in the godowns of around 200 shops in the wholesale market of Sualkuchi. This is a blow to the industry after the anti-CAA movement in December 2019.

"The wholesale market of Sualkuchi with around 200 wholesale shops does the business of around Rs 200 crore annually. The amount multiplies as the products enter various markets in the State and outside it. The peak season when 60-70 per cent sale is made is from October to April, and the highest sale is in Bohag (April-March). However, this time the industry has missed this period of brisk business. The sales of gamusa, mekhela-chador, shawls etc are high when there are festivals like Bihu, marriage ceremonies etc. However, this time around all such festivals had to be rescinded.

"Even as Sualkuchi is known as the textile town, bulk of the golden yarns like Taser, Eri, Muga and Mulberry comes from outside the State, mostly from Karnataka that procures them from China. Days before the lockdown was imposed, the prices of various yarns were hiked by 20 per cent. The weavers of Sualkuchi get only three kg yarn from Artfed's yarn bank at 20 per cent reduction. They have to buy rest of the yarn from the open market at higher prices. Before the 20 per cent hike, the prices of yarn were – Taser at Rs 6,500 per kg, Eri at Rs 2,300 per kg, Muga at Rs 1,500 per kg and Mulberry at Rs 6,000 per kg. What we guess now is that after the lockdown, the prices of yarns will be doubled. In such a situation, if the State government doesn't keep a close watch on the prices of yarn, this indigenous industry will be moribund.

"We also want the State government to dole out some sort of relief to the weavers and migrant weavers as they are not covered under any scheme of the State government."