Although being famous for its Bomkei and Berhampuri designs, known for Sambalpuri because of its Ikat type of weaving, Odisha has reportedly not produced any textile products in last five years. State’s handlooms, textiles and handicrafts minister, Snehangini Chhuria said that government has no knowledge if any units run by the central government and private owners have produced textile products during this period.

However, Odisha government has announced that steps are being taken to make three of the seven government-run spinning mills functional through privatization and liquidation process is on for the rest four mills.

All the 13 textile industries, including the Orissa Textiles Mills (OTM), have remained inoperative for long. It is not only textile mills, 13 spinning units, which were supplying threads to textile companies, have also been closed. The state government has no plan to revive the textile units as of now, she said.

Closure of these units has resulted in job loss to 9,598 employees and workers. The state government has paid financial support of Rs. 43.33 crore to 8,532 of those workers.

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