The Ichalkaranji-based textile sector that employs more than 60,000 people only in Ichalkaranji the autoloom, powerloom, sizing and processing sectors are facing tough time as production has been scaled down to 30-40% because of decline in orders affecting the entire chain of textile.

There are several subsidy components that are closed by the state government which has also affected the industry and trimming incomes, said Prakash Awade, an expert in textile sector.

The textile sector is ready facing challenges as there is no major demand from the market. Moreover the high wage issue and frequent strikes organised by workers from various sectors. The sector is getting stuck.

The powerloom association and sizing associations have gone against the state government's decision of Rs 10,500 minimum wage per employee claiming that it is too high to make the payments. It is not feasible for industries to make the payment based on time-rate.

The sizing sector that demanding a wage hike was not been addressed. The sizing and warping workers had started their agitation on July 21 and it continued for 52 days. As there was no solution to the matter, workers accepted the Rs 500 per person wage hike, but the basic issues were still left unresolved. Datta Mane, a union leader said,

It is true that the textile companies in Ichalkaranji are facing problems but they are not so big. The issues are hyped, but it needs to be addressed properly. Because of the strike, the production went down, but demand has not gone up as expected.

The autoloom and powerloom machines operators are yet to receive big orders so that they can enhance their production. Going by the current situation, the textile factories are going through its worst period.

Awade maintained that the much-needed intervention from the state is not happening and so the issues are still unsolved.