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  Since ancient period to 18th centuryIndia producedhand spinning textiles or handlooms.
                     Our traditional industries suffered asetback during colonial period as theycould not
                       compete with the power looms from England.
                     After 18th century power loom was introducedin India.
                     The first textile mill was established in Mumbaiin 1854.
                     Two world wars gave a boost to cotton textilemills in India.
                     Today there are 1600 cotton and human madefibre textile mills in India
                     In the early years cotton textiles industrieswereconcentrated in Maharashtra and Gujarat
               Because:-
                     . Availability of raw cotton
                     . Market
                     . Transport
                     . Port facilities
                     . Labour
                     . Moist climate

                     This industries provide living to – cotton farmers, cotton ball pluckers and workers
                       engaged in ginning,
                     Spinning, weaving, dyeing, designing, packaging, tailoring and sewing.
                     The industry supports many other industries likechemicals and dyes, mill stores,
                       packagingMaterialsand engineering works.
                     While spinning continues to be centralized weaving is decentralized to provide scope for
                       incorporating traditional skills and designs weaving in cotton, silk,zari, embroidery etc.
                     In India weaving is done by handloom, power loomand in mills.

               Why did Mahatma Gandhi lay emphasis on handloom?
                     The handspun khadi provides large scale employmentto weavers in their homes as a
                       cottage industry.
                     It can solve the problem of unemployment in acountry of vast population like India.
                     Table- 5.1
               Why is it important for our country to keep the mill sector loomage lower than power
               loom and handloom?

               The mismatch in cotton textile is a major drawback forthe industry:
                     Our spinning mills are competitive at the global level and capable of using all the fibres
                       we produce. India has a world class production in spinning. It accounts for 1/4th of the
                       world trade of cotton yarn.
                     The weaving, knitting and processing units can not use much of the high quality yarn
                       produced in the country.There are some large and modern factories in this segment but
                       most of the productions are in fragmented small units which cater to the local market.
                       Our trade in garment is only 4% of the world’s total.
                     Spinners export cotton yarn but manufacturers have toimport fabric

               .
               Why is it important for us to improve our weavingsector instead of exporting yarn in
               large quantities?
               Problems faced by cotton textile industries in India:
               1. Production of long stapple cotton has to increase
               1. Production of long stapple cotton has to increase
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