Weaving is a major organised occupation in Aruppukottai Assembly constituency next only to agriculture, as the job generation by spinning mills in the region has significantly declined in the last several years.
Weaving has been predominantly a house-hold occupation with many houses having an average of two powerlooms that produce cotton and polycotton saris.
“We have some 7,000 powerlooms in the town and it employs around 25,000 persons. However, the major issue plaguing our occupation is lack of effluent treatment plant for dyeing units,” says president of Aruppukottai Powerloom Cloth Manufacturers’ Association, S.S.K. Ganesan.
An attempt by some businessmen from Madurai and neighbouring districts to set up a massive textile processing cluster with 36 dyeing and bleaching units at Thamaraikulam near Kariyapatti could not take off due to vehement opposition from the farmers.
The powerloom operators have been appealing for a common effluent treatment plant to be set up by the State government.
