Weaving Hope, Securing Futures in Komalapuram

Febin Joshy

Published on Aug 13, 2025, 01:49 PM | 2 min read

‘The company would have been shut down and lost forever. This job is a great relief. It’s a steady income. My children’s education depends entirely on it. Household affairs run smoothly without stress. I have job security, all benefits, and a sense of pride and happiness.’

When speaking about her job and the changes it brought to her life, K G Salitha of South Aryad, Nikerth, wears a smile full of peace and joy. Along with Salitha, 372 families enjoy happiness and security thanks to the Komalapuram Spinning Mill revived by the LDF government. Under UDF’s mismanagement, the Alappuzha Komalapuram Spinning and Weaving Mills was on the verge of collapse. Today, it is a public sector enterprise earning more than 30 crore rupees in annual sales.

The mill, started in the private sector in 1964 as Kerala Spinners Limited, was shut down in 2003 due to losses. In 2006, the LDF government took over the unit. With the installation of modern imported machinery, it was reopened in 2011 under the State Textile Corporation.

A dispute over recruitment led to court intervention, delaying operations again. During the five years of UDF rule, no action was taken to resolve the issue or reopen the company. Operations resumed in 2018 during the first Pinarayi Vijayan government and became fully functional in 2020. 36 Cutting -Edge Machines Driving Production Today, production runs 24 hours a day in three shifts, with a capacity of 1.5 to 1.6 lakh kilograms per month. The mill produces three types of polyester- cotton yarn. Yarn required for the free school uniform scheme is produced here for handloom societies.

Earlier, this yarn had to be sourced from other states. The government’s decision strengthened the mill’s revival. Facilities such as power looms are available for weaving. A total of 36 advanced machines have been installed for the purpose. So far, 14 lakh meters of fabric have been supplied for KSRTC khaki uniforms. The mill also undertakes fabric production in Kerala and Tamil Nadu for its own needs. 'Greenfield' own brand Under the brand name ‘Greenfield’, the mill markets shirts, mundus, bed sheets, and churidars through the corporation’s outlets. It also supplies uniforms to medical colleges, KMML, Travancore Cochin Chemicals, Kudumbashree, private companies, and Haritha Karma Sena members. Annual turnover (in crore rupees):