About IGCL
Introduction
Ichalkaranji is one of the biggest Power loom center in the country and is aptly known as the Manchester of Maharashtra. There are about 1,15,000 Power looms, 22,000 Semi auto looms and 4500 Shuttle less looms in and around the Ichalkaranji which produces 10 to 12 lacs meters gray cloth daily. The beginning of the Power loom industry in the erstwhile Princely State goes back to 1904 when the first powerloom started in the city by an entrepreneur late Vithalrao Datar with the inspiration and support of the then Chief of the Ichalkaranji Jahagirdar, Shrimant Narayanrao Babasaheb Ghorpade. However, till the late forties the growth of Power loom was too slow and the number reached up to 5000 Power loom about 1950. In post independence, the industry grew rapidly and the handloom industry was gradually converted in Power loom. The effort of late Dattajirao Kadam, Ex. M.P., late A. G. alias Abasaheb Kulkarani, veteran Parliamentarian helped the industry to flourish. The establishment of spinning co-operatives, processing units gave fillip to the Power loom industry. Further Kallappanna Awade, Ex. Minister of State for Industries, Maharashtra put in ardent efforts by establishing various spinning mills in co-operative field viz. ICO, Navmaharashtra & Indira Gandhi Mahila. The world class education Institute of DKTE established by him is proving textile technocrats. All these activities shot up the number of Power looms and other subsidiary industries and business such as warping, sizing, banking etc. and Ichalkaranji became the of the biggest Power loom centre in decentralized sector.
The Textile industry is the largest industry in terms of employment economy, expected to generate 12 million jobs by Year 2010. The Textile sector accounts for about 14% of total industrial output and about 17% of total export. This potential reflected in growth and product diversification in widely spread Textile sector at Ichalkaranji. Ichalkaranji is one of the prominent textile centers in India. In and around Ichalkaranji there are about 35 spinning mills, covering wide range of counts, ply yarns, ring and open end yarns, and fancy yarns. These units are well equipped with machinery, R & D and product development facilities for quality and better productivity. There are about 150 sizing units, which includes conventional to modern machines and more than 1 lakhs power looms in decentralized sector. These includes plain loom, dobby, drop box, auto and semi auto looms such wide range of machines are producing cambric, poplin, Dhoti, Sari, Shirting, Suiting, Canvas and Industrial Textile. More than 35 power processes and about 80 hand processing units are fulfilling the needs for the sector. From last two decades, there is significant change in this sector, reflected into product diversification, quality improvement, productivity which is a result of more than 4500 shuttle less looms are in operation. DKTE has joined hands together with Ichalkaranji Municipal Council and started “Mahila Kranti Yojana”, where 2079 women undergone Garment manufacturing Training, and 3000 women will be rolling out in another two years. This skilled man power is ready to cater the needs of emerging Garment Sector. The spinning and weaving sectors are well developed in India and in Ichalkaranji these are also performing well. The fabric processing units in Ichalkaranji are emerging up with good machineries and competitive product quality. In the Textile supply chain system Garmenting is a weak link in Ichalkaranji region. There are about 35 small scale Garmenting units in Ichalkaranji. Many entrepreneurs, micro enterprises are entering or ready to enter into the field of Garment. The details are enclosed herewith as Enclosure No. IV.To develop the confidence in to entrepreneurs through availability of skilled labours, R & D, productivity and creativity marketing facilities will help to open up new avenues in terms of customer base, variety of products. This new areas challenge into fabric selection, creative designs, attractive effects, skilled women labour for stitching machine. To rectify and overcome these obstacles a common facility centre with following objectives is of prime need.
- Training Center
- Common Production & Processing Center
- R & D Centre & Testing Center
- Product Development & Quality up gradation
- Design Creativity
- Marketing Facility