 "A power loom owner stands in his factory in Bhiwandi, that has come to a halt due to demonetisation. Photo: Sanjay Jog")
Several power loom weavers in Uttar Pradesh have gone on indefinite strike in protest against the new power tariff imposed on them. On Tuesday, not one loom in Varanasi functioned and weavers were seen protesting at several places, demanding that the old tariff system be restored. According to them, the new tariff will increase the cost of production and force them to lose business to their counterparts in Surat and Bhiwandi.
At present power loom weavers outnumber handlooms four-to-one in UP. As per estimates about two million weavers are associated with some 272,000 power looms in Varanasi, Mau, Azamgarh, Jhansi, Barabanki,
