The Women workers employed in the city’s unorganised man-made fabric(MMF) sector may get the attention of the Central Government in the coming days. A-30 member parliamentary Committee on Empowerment of Women will be visiting the Diamond City on November 28 to examine the condition of women workers in Surat’s unorganised textile sector.
According to an estimate, out of the 14 lakh workers employed in the city’s textile, embroidery and jari industries, women workers account for about 15% workforce. Majority of the women workers are employed in the jari and hand-embroidery sector.
Most of the women workers are employed in embroidery loike Jardoshi work, butta and lose thread cuttinf jobs, saree stitching lace, pearl tikki and Sitara fixing to add value to the saris and dress materials, stitching in garmenting sector, preparing of soft toys, Pillows and other related products from textile scrap etc.,
The South Gujarat Productivity Council (SGPT), which will make a detailed presentation before the Parliamentary Committee Members, stated that the Women workers have been largely affected due to the ongoing recession in the textile sector. The impact of GST and the decreasing production has directly impacted the women workers in the unorganised textile sector. Apart from recession, the textile sector is facing major challenge in terms of changing trends in fashion and consumption of cotton based fabrics.
Moreover, the textile sector in South Gujarat is facing stiff competition from neighbouring Maharashtra due to highly subsidised electricity tariff rates. At, present, the solar subsidy is provided for eight looms shed, but there are an average of 24 looms in a single shed in the city that are unable to claim the subsidy.
Vice-president of SGPT, Asha Dave told TOI, “There is au urgent need for the Central Government to provide an exclusive women textile market in the city to boost the entrepreneurial skills for the women involved in the textile sector. Also, the government should formulate a special policy for the companies ready to give employment to more than 6o0 per cent Women.
Dave added, “This is first time that the Parliamentary committee of Loksabha is on visit to understand the condition of women working in the textile sector. We have prepared a detailed presentation and hope for proactive measures for the betterment of the women workers”.

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