PM Modi Opens Arvind’s Rs 150 Crore Textile Plant in Varanasi

Speaking to IANS, Arvind Limited Vice Chairman Kulin Lalbhai said, “We completed this entire factory in just two to three years. It will provide employment to over a thousand women, and the garments produced here will be exported globally. Most importantly, all the women working here are local residents of Varanasi.” He added, “This factory will also generate a significant number of indirect employment opportunities.”

Voices From the Factory Floor

The women employees and trainees were overjoyed by the Prime Minister’s visit. Sandhya, who works as an operator, said she was happy to be part of the factory, and her joy knew no bounds on seeing PM Modi in person. Vasav Daksh said the Prime Minister spoke with her and asked how long they had been working there and whether they were satisfied with the working environment.

Anjali said her face-to-face conversation with the Prime Minister was a wonderful experience she would cherish all her life. Beenu Vishwakarma said she was happy to have met him even though she did not get a chance to speak directly. Seema Kanojia, who does sewing-related work, said that while she could not speak with the Prime Minister, seeing him from close quarters was a significant experience.

The plant produces a wide range of garments, including T-shirts, shirts, jackets, trousers, sherwanis, men’s boxers and women’s leggings. The Arvind Group, established in 1931 in Ahmedabad, is a prominent name in Indian textiles, known for denim, cotton and linen fabrics, suit materials, sportswear and specialised industrial textiles.

The real significance of the project lies in who it employs. Purvanchal has long seen workers migrate to other states for jobs, and formal factory employment for women in the region has been limited. A large, export-oriented unit that hires locally, and mostly women, offers steady income close to home and could encourage more textile and garment investment in eastern Uttar Pradesh, adding a modern manufacturing layer to Varanasi’s centuries-old weaving tradition.

(With inputs from IANS)