Case Study
Passage with linked questions
Case Set 1
Case AnalysisPassage
Riya's father owns a cotton textile mill in Ahmedabad. He recently explained to her how the industry had shifted from being concentrated only in Maharashtra and Gujarat to spreading across India. He told her that in ancient times, cotton textiles were made using hand spinning and handloom weaving techniques. After the 18th century, power-looms came into use. During colonial rule, traditional industries suffered because they could not compete with mill-made cloth from England. Today, the industry provides livelihoods to farmers, cotton boll pluckers, and workers involved in ginning, spinning, weaving, dyeing, and tailoring. It also supports industries like chemicals, dyes, packaging materials, and engineering works.
Question 1: Name two states where the cotton textile industry was first concentrated and state the reason for its localisation there.
- The cotton textile industry was first concentrated in Maharashtra and Gujarat.
- The reasons for localisation include availability of raw cotton, suitable moist climate, good transport and port facilities, and availability of labour.
Question 2: Why did traditional cotton textile industries suffer a setback during the colonial period?
- Traditional industries could not compete with the cheaper mill-made cloth imported from England.
- The colonial policies favoured British textile exports, which undermined indigenous production techniques like handloom weaving.
Question 3: How does the cotton textile industry support other sectors of the economy? Explain with examples.
- The cotton textile industry creates demand for chemicals and dyes used in dyeing and processing cloth.
- It supports packaging materials industry for packing finished textile goods.
- It supports engineering works for manufacturing and maintaining machinery used in mills.
- It provides livelihoods directly to farmers growing cotton, cotton boll pluckers, and workers in ginning, spinning, weaving, dyeing, tailoring and sewing.