On a desolate stretch of Nangamangalam village in Panapakkam, the sound of power looms resume inside a shed after a short power cut.
A lone worker adjusts the threads on the four looms that are functional, while more than a dozen looms lie idle.
Over the last few years, Ramu, a weaver who runs the unit, has downsized both labour and production capacity after weaving took a hit due to GST.
“I had 13 workers earlier. Now, there are only three. I am unable to pay them proper wages. There are 23 looms in my unit, but I do operate all the looms as it is difficult to get ‘paavu’. Small weavers like me can no longer stay in the trade due to GST. Five years ago, there were nearly 500 power looms in and around Panapakkam. Now, only 200 are functioning,” said Mr. Ramu.