Surat textile industry faces labour shortage, groups request transportation for workers

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
Sep 9, 2020

Textile hub Surat is experiencing prolonged labour shortages and organisations in the area have requested the central government to run special trains to enable workers to return.

 
Surat saw a large number of its textile workers return to their hometowns during the pan-India lockdown, as factories closed down for much of the duration. Many workers have not yet returned, in part due to a lack of transportation, Asian News International reported. 
 
This situation has led the Pandesara Weavers Cooperative Society Ltd to request Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to urge the centre to run special trains from Odisha, where many workers come from, to Surat so they can recommence work and restart the area’s industry.

“We have requested Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to further urge the Central government to run special trains from Odisha to bring back workers to Surat so that we can resume our operations,” said Pandesara Weavers Cooperative president, Ashish Gujarati, Asian News International reported. 

Buses from Odisha to Surat are currently available but the lengthy trip and a recent traffic accident are dissuading some workers from making the trip.

“We want workers to safely return and resume work,” said Gujarati.