‘Govt must give relief in loan repayment, instalments’

Industry & Lockdown

Joginder Kumar Monga, owner of RK Wollen, has a vast experience in the power loom industry. Monga, who is also the general secretary of the Textile Manufacture Welfare Association, discusses the impact of the lockdown on the power loom industry in an interview with Charanjit Singh Teja. Excerpts:

How has the lockdown impacted the power loom industry?

The industry suffered a major blow after the imposition of the lockdown. There are about 200 major power loom units in the city. It is a small scale tinny industry. On an average, power loom owners have six to 12 looms in one unit and four to six workers require in a single shift. We make clothes, suits and shawls and sell these in the local market. Around 80 per cent weavers are from other states. Almost 50 per cent of them have left the city. We are paying power bills, bank loans and salaries of workers when the manufacturing work is yet to start. There is nothing for the power loom industry in the financial package announced by the Centre.

The lockdown broke the backbone of the power loom industry. We are bearing all expenses. The market is closed and we will not get our money for production, which we supplied in the market before the Covid-19 outbreak. Electricity is very expensive and there is no relaxation by the government in this regard. — Joginder Kumar Monga, Owner of RK Wollen

Advertisement

Do you expect resumption of your business in near future?

The power loom industry had been suffering for the past some decades. The operating expenses were increasing day by day. A shortage of labour will add to the woes. Migrant workers will not return soon. We tried hard to open the units. Now, the power loom units are functional, but the market is still slow. So, it will take time for resumption in our business.

How are you dealing with issue of paying salaries to workers?

Power loom workers work on contact. We have some employees who get salaries that include foreman and clippers. We have paid them salaries otherwise they would also leave. The government should assure migrant workers that they would get work and wages.

Do you consider the current crisis a challenge or an opportunity?

It is a major challenge as the lockdown broke the backbone of the power loom industry. We are bearing all expenses. The market is closed and we will not get our money for production, which we supplied in the market before the Covid-19 outbreak. Electricity is very expensive and there is no relaxation from the government in this regard.

What are your expectations from the government?

The Union Government offered loans in the name of a package. Loan with interest will not help the power loom industry. Here firm owners are not white-collar industrialists. They work along with workers then earn something. They are not able to get benefits of government schemes. The government should release working capital without any interest. It should ask banks to provide relaxation in loan repayment and instalments.