The Assam government’s restriction on the sale of Mekhela Sador and Gamusa produced on power looms has caused panic among the Surat power loom weavers. Almost 60% of Assam’s usage comes from Surat, which has always been a significant supplier to the North Eastern state. The sudden ban, according to Champalal Bothra, general secretary of the Federation of Surat Textile Traders Association (FOSTA), “on one hand, will impact about 700 to 800 traders and 300 to 400 weavers along with the labourers associated with the looms producing Mekhala Sador in Surat that has a turnover of around ‘3,000 crore annually.”
He continued by saying that many Assamese merchants who had previously stocked the already-produced goods are now considering returning them. “So, for us, it’s a double-whammy.” Bothra stated, “We met with Darshana Jardosh, MoS Textiles, and she has heard us out. Yet there hasn’t yet been a definite settlement.
