The power looms in Malegaon, Bhiwandi, Ichalkaranji, Solapur, Surat, Varanasi, Erode, and other centres in the country are working at sub-optimal capacities due to high input costs and reduced off-take of fabrics. The low off-take has resulted in partial stoppage of power looms in some clusters.
On account of input costs and lower demand, there has been some impact on decentralised power loom industry which has resulted in the reduction of operational shifts in some clusters.
In order to overcome the problems faced by power loom weavers and for the development of the decentralised Power loom Sector, Government has been implementing various schemes such as i) Technology Up gradation Fund Scheme for up gradation of technology; ii) In-situ Up gradation Scheme for upgrading plain power looms; iii) Group Work shed Scheme for giving assistance for constructing workshed for power loom sector; iv) Integrated Scheme for Power loom Sector Development (ISPSD) for extending support in the form of Buyer Seller Meets, Yarn Banks, setting up of Common Facility Centres, organising Seminar/ Workshops; v) Group Insurance Scheme for social security, and vi) Integrated Skill Development Scheme (ISDS) for skill up gradation.