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Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. weaving
    • ex. She enjoys weaving colorful cloth from cotton and wool.
  2. shut down
    • ex. The restaurant had to shut down for a week because of repairs in the kitchen.
  3. a loom
    • ex. At the factory, workers use large looms to make colorful clothes.
  4. a steady job
    • ex. Lisa has found a steady job as a nurse in the city.
  5. yarn
    • ex. My grandmother used red and green yarn to make a warm scarf for winter.

Article

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In Bhiwandi, India, many weaving workshops are shutting down, causing concern for workers like Abdul Sattar. For over fifty years, he has worked 12 hours in noisy workshops, making cloth on looms. Sattar came to Bhiwandi when he was 15 years old. Back then, weaving workshops provided jobs for many workers from villages in north India. The pay was low, and the work was hard, but it was a steady job.

Today, however, about 30% of the workshops have shut down, according to Abdul Rashid Tahir Momin, President of Bhiwandi Powerloom Weavers Federation. Rising yarn prices and electricity costs make the cloth more expensive than Chinese products. Also, newer, automatic looms are replacing the old ones, and they can make better cloth faster and with fewer workers.

Ishtaq Ahmad Ansari, once the owner of 110 power looms, closed his business four years ago. “This industry was once the second largest employer after farming. It is sad to see it in such a state,” he says. Despite having similar challenges, Sattar continues to work but hopes for a different future for his son.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.
Photo Credits: The Associated Press

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Weaving Business

  • Many Indian weaving workshops are shutting down because their cloth is more expensive than Chinese products. In your opinion, what can the government do to save the workshops from their struggles? Discuss.
  • Which would you support more: local industries, like the weaving business, or cheaper products from other countries? Discuss.
  • In India, weaving workshops provided a steady job for many workers. In your country, what kind of industry provided a steady job for people in the past (ex. farming, tourism)? Discuss.

Traditional vs Modern Ways of Businesses

  • Some weaving businesses are now using modern technology instead of traditional processes. What do you think about this? Discuss.
  • In your opinion, what industries should keep using traditional processes (ex. weaving, pottery)? Discuss.
  • In your opinion, what industries should start using modern technology (ex. farming, transportation)? Discuss.