The textile sector in Surat is still awaiting the power subsidy guaranteed in the 2019 Gujarat Textile Policy as reported by The Blunt Times.
The dreams of more than 3,800 entrepreneurs, approved by the District Industries Centre and Surat District Collector, remain unfulfilled by the State Government. As the deadline of 31st December 2023 for the Textile Policy has gone by, uncertainty affects the industry.
The promised subsidy cost is Rs. 3 per unit for LT (Low Tension) connections and Rs. 2 per unit for HT (High Tension) connections – aimed to revive the sector struggling with increasing energy costs.
Vijay Mevawala, Vice President of the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, expressed “We haven’t heard a word about the disbursement of the subsidy. We’ve written to the State Government, urging them to clear the files. Our hope is that these 3,800 applications, each representing a weaver’s dream, will finally see the light of day.”
The textile sector not only fuels Gujarat’s economy but also sustains millions of livelihoods, making the delayed subsidy a betrayal of trust and a serious threat to the base of the textile dream in Surat.
Mayur Golwala, leader of Surat’s powerloom industry, states “The Government must act swiftly to clear the backlog and ensure that the fabric of hope doesn’t unravel into despair.”
