The power loom industry of Surat, the world’s largest manufacturing hub for artificial fabrics, which has been in a severe slump for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, has seen a tremendous boost due to the assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.
More than one lakh workers have been engaged for the last month in weaving and dyeing of election materials and tricolor to meet the big orders of political parties.
Although the Diwali season business has been relatively low, the election battle between Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress, and Aam Aadmi Party in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh has proved to be a boon for Surat’s textile industry. The eleven-month ban imposed on textile units in Ahmedabad to curb pollution levels has directly benefited Surat in this election, textile traders and owners said.
Political parties have placed lakhs of orders for caps, t-shirts, scarves, party flags, sarees, festoon flags, tent material, and banners to decorate the stage.
The temporary ban on processing units in Ahmedabad has definitely benefited the business here, which remained sluggish even during the Diwali season. But, it is easy to produce lakhs of meters of cloth compared to sewing and screen printing, which is usually done in Ahmedabad.
Those in the business say demand is high and sales are expected to cross Rs 1,000 crore this election season. There are around 25 textile industries in Surat, which produce lakhs of meters of sarees, tent materials, flags, and election materials including scarves.
