Anantapur textile sector struggles amid infrastructure and policy gaps

The textile industry in Anantapur district, a major employment driver, is facing severe setbacks due to inadequate infrastructure and lack of government support. Key hubs like Rayadurgam and Pamidi, known for jeans and nightwear production, are struggling with stagnation and policy inaction, jeopardizing thousands of livelihoods.

Despite state policies aimed at boosting the sector, the absence of essential infrastructure such as water supply, transport, and dyeing units has deterred investment. Bureaucratic hurdles and lack of financial incentives have further compounded the crisis, forcing many small-scale units to shut down and leaving workers jobless.

Rayadurgam, home to over 600 textile units employing around 50,000 workers, has yet to recover from Covid-19's impact, with nearly 300 units closing. The Udegolam Textile Park, spanning 17.24 acres, remains underutilized due to poor infrastructure and its remote location. Entrepreneurs stress that a dyeing unit and effluent treatment plant (ETP) would attract fresh investments.

Pamidi, dubbed the ‘Second Mumbai’ of textiles, has over 200 shops supporting 10,000 families. However, a proposed 2004 Textile Park remains incomplete due to land disputes, preventing entrepreneurs from accessing loans and subsidies. Business leaders urge the government for timely subsidy disbursement, infrastructure upgrades, and better worker facilities to revitalize the sector.