The only spinning mill of its kind in the State, controlled by a cooperative body of weavers, was passing through a deep financial crisis for about three years. The production came to a grinding halt with the Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) disconnecting power supply on October 8, 1996 for non-payment bills. Since then the mill workers regularly go to the mill only to sign the muster and come back home without getting salary.

Their anxious enquiries with the trade union leaders, legislators and ministers evoked sympathetic replies. But no action followed. There was no information available from official sources. The employees joined agitations in response to calls given by union leaders. But the democratic process of agitation also failedto bring about any change in the government policy.

Meanwhile, a liquidator was appointed and tenders were floated to sell off the mill property. But there was no response to the tenders. A company controlled by a close relative of a legislator showed interest in running the mills. But the company officials developed cold feet when they learnt about the complicated nature of the problem, the dues to be cleared and above all, the problem of payment of arrears to employees.

Another recent development raised the hopes of employees. They were enthused to learn that efforts were being made by leaders of INTUC-affiliated union to float a cooperative body of employees in a bid to take over the management