Two decades ago, there were 27 textile mills functioning in and around the city. Today, only three are operational. The textile sector, a major job giver, is not alone.
While sectors such as engineering and automobiles are non-starters in the region, industries manufacturing tyres, rubber parts for auto industries and domestic purposes, garments, knitting and hosiery, powerloom and ancillary units are functioning in the industrial estates at K. Pudur, Kappalur and Uranganpatti and outside. While the textile park near Vadipatti is functioning well, it is not the case with industries in K. Pudur and Kappalur as the operators have plenty of woes.
When The Hindu visited some of the industries and interacted with the entrepreneurs and workers in the region, they said that many small and cottage units were no more viable due to competition from cheaper goods imported from China. For modernisation of plants, they required huge capital and expertise. Due to lack of support from the government and pressure from financial institutions to repay loans, many have wound up their business.
Factors such as the GST, demonetisation and unfavourable political atmosphere have all contributed to the slugglish industrial growth. Skilled workers have been migrating to Tirupur in search of jobs and engineering graduates to Bengaluru, Chennai and other cities with IT industries. After the district administration exposed how malpractices at big granite quarries in and around Madurai resulted in loss of ₹16000 crore to the exchequer, the State government initiated probe and eventually halted their functioning. This has led to loss of jobs for more than 10,000 workers, who include engineers, diploma holders, technicians and semi and unskilled workers. While most of them had gone to Hosur for jobs in granite quarries, others had migrated to Andhra Pradesh, sources say.
Two new clusters
But former MADITSSIA president KR. Gnanasambandan exudes hope. “All these unfavourable circumstances do not mean the end of the road for Madurai industries. A negative image of Madurai on the social media should be countered with the positive ground realities.
Things will change for the bettter and local talents can be tapped. There is ample scope in Madurai for giving employment to students passing out of engineering and arts and science colleges,’ he said.
He said a textile cluster was coming up with 40 units near Kariapatti in Virudhunagar district and closer to Madurai. It would give employment to 2,000 people.
“An engineering cluster on 50 acres will start functioning in less than six months at Thumbaipatti near Melur in Madurai district. With 25 units, this cluster is expected to give direct employment to 500 people,” Mr. Gnanasambandan said.
MoU with industries
Madurai Kamaraj University advisor (university-industry collaboration) A. Selvaraj said memorandums of understanding with select industries in and around Madurai had been signed.
The aim was to enable employable students to have an opportunity to work in Madurai and thus prevent migration. The industries were also being encouraged to tap local talent, Mr. Selvaraj added.
While faculty members at the university appealed to the State government to improve the objectives of employment exchanges on the lines of private HR firms and make them pro-active, they urged the government to expedite Madurai-Thoothukudi industrial corridor project as it would attract major business houses.
Likewise, the local authorities should be given instructions to improve the infrastructure in the industrial estates and arrange for meetings with bankers for revival of sick units.
More importantly, youngsters should be made aware of the consequences of projecting Madurai in a negative way on social media and other platforms, the faculty members said.
