E-Paper
Carpet exporters shifting base from UP
CONTRARY TO the Uttar Pradesh government?s slogan of making UP as ?Uttam Pradesh?, carpet manufacturers are bidding goodbye to the state and fast fleeing to different parts of the country due to the shabby infrastructure.
CONTRARY TO the Uttar Pradesh government’s slogan of making UP as ‘Uttam Pradesh’, carpet manufacturers are bidding goodbye to the state and fast fleeing to different parts of the country due to the shabby infrastructure.
Surprising it sounds that Bhadohi township’s worst infrastructure played a dominating role in making a large number of carpet industry workers jobless and exporters fleeing to others states like Rajasthan, Haryana (Panipat) and Delhi.
The dilapidated condition of almost all the roads, erratic power scenario, lack of bus stand and poor rail connectivity are among the top drawbacks of this carpet belt which cause hindrance for the buyers who avoid visiting Bhadhoi.
Sources said that Bhadhoi and Mirzapur which used to provide employment to around 25 lakh people in this belt about 10 years ago has considerably reduced to 10 lakh who get work in this sector whereas remaining 15 lakh have been rendered jobless or have switched to other trade.
Similarly, the export of carpets worth Rs 1,500 crore from this belt during the same period has reduced to half due to poor infrastructure, unfavorable campaign abroad besides labour and industrial acts prevalent in India.
If the carpet manufactures are to be believed, the future of people related with the trade in Bhadhoi and Mirzapur belt is dark if the carpet manufactures and exporters continue to flee from this State at the same pace.
Bhadohi, the largest carpet manufacture belt in India, according to locals has been totally neglected and the buyers (domestic and foreigners) were reluctant in placing orders due to the dilapidated road condition, grim power scenario and poor rail connectivity.
“This carpet belt has been left at the mercy of the almighty. Exporters and manufactures have fled to parts where the buyers could visit them without any difficulty,” Shaukat Ali Ansari, president of All India Carpet Manufactures Association told Hindustan Times on Saturday.
“It is sad that anti-labour laws also contributed in allowing carpet industry to die a gradual death,” Ansari argued. Adverse media campaign in the foreign countries glorifying child labour in carpet weaving also sounded death kneels for this industry.
