>
Title: Problems being faced by powerloom and handloom weavers due to rise in price of yarn.
SHRI S. SEMMALAI (SALEM): I express my thanks to you, Madam Chairperson, for allowing me to raise an important matter relating to the plight of handloom and powerloom weavers due to rise in prices of raw cotton and cotton yarn. lobalization has hit handloom and power-loom industries severely. Next to agriculture only, this sector employs the largest number of labourers. There are 34.86 lakh handlooms in our country and Tamil Nadu alone has 4.14 lakh looms providing employment to nearly six lakh people. In the recent times, the price of raw cotton and cotton yarn has touched dizzy heights – one prime reason is our export policy.
So, I would request the Government to immediately ban the export of raw cotton and also put an end to online trading on cotton. This would arrest the price escalation. Allowing the raw cotton export would prove to be suicidal to textile industry. As stated by the hon. Minister of Textiles, if cotton production is increased, why should the price of raw cotton and cotton yarn show an upward trend? I also urge the Government to roll back the duty imposed on waste cotton. Instead of exporting raw cotton, I make an appeal to the Government to encourage loom sector by giving some concessions and arrange for the export of their finished goods to sustain and survive the industry. This is my request and submission.