Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh
The coronavirus
pandemic affected all industries, including weavers and artisans comprising
Anantapur district’s largest workforce. The apparel and textile parks being
developed by the Andhra Pradesh government are incomplete.
No units have been
established as of now and the only one started in Anantapur’s Rayadurg district
is still empty. The establishment of apparel and textile parks was intended to
increase employment and export of apparels and textiles. However, improper
choice of site, delay in transferring of lands to the Department of Handlooms
and Textiles, and incomplete infrastructure amenities and facilities has led to
delays of 23-180 months in setting up the parks. There was a shortfall of
24-100% in setting up units and the employment generation shortfall ranged from
74-100%.
The Hans India reported
that, according to a social activist, there is a lot of potential in the
district to emerge as a textile hub and garnering employment if the present
YSRCP government focuses on developing the textile parks and keeping weaving traditions alive.
According to a CAG
report, both the State and Central governments are responsible for neglecting
the handloom industry and the weavers for decades.
From 2002-03, steps
were taken to develop textile and apparel parks, as well as export-oriented and
integrated parks, focusing on the domestic market. The State took up 11 such
parks.
Source – The Hans India
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