Alok plans mega unit at Silvassa

Silvassa-based Alok Industries is all set to start a garment-manufacturing plant in Sayli here at an investment of Rs 1,200 crore. The facility, which will employ 3,000 women, is expected to start functioning by March this year.

"The unit will be a garment division of the company. The construction of the plant is going on and by March we expect to complete half of it. By September it will be completed fully. The manufactured garments would be exported mainly to the US and the European countries. It will be a composite unit, because along with the garments, we will have made-ups and spinning as well," said a company official based in Mumbai.

The company manufactures woollen fabric and has three units in Silvassa - weaving, texturising and knitting. Spread over an area of 12.5 hectare, the new plant will help the company integrate all its processes and add value to its products.

"The equipments being installed in the unit are all imported," company sources said.

The unit will generate employment for 3,000 women. "Women will make up 80 per cent of the total work force in the unit. A one month training is being given to them," he said.

All women employee are from Navshakti Mahila Sangathan, Silvassa "� an organisation with twenty thousand women members. "We are trying to give high preference to the local women of the area," the sources added. The sources said the company was planning to introduce night shifts that would last till 11 pm.

"At Present, we will go with only 8 hours shift," sources informed.

"It's the first time that any company has taken our women in such huge number. The employees will be working on an eight hour shift and the company is providing pick and drop facilities to the women," said Indumati K Shrimali, president, Navshakti Mahila Sangathan adding " the training is going on for four hours a day."