Indore once had seven textile mills and was main exporter of cloth to several parts of the country. The gradual closure of seven mills left thousands of workers unemployed. In the last three decades, several attempts have been made by different organizations and trade unions to revive at least one textile mills. But all attempts failed.

Indore MP and Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan speaking at the function organized by Indore Cloth Market Traders' Association as part of Diwali get-together on Sunday, said smaller textile units like dyeing, knitting or printing can be set up which will generate employment.

But it seems difficult to revive textile mills in the city as it requires huge investment. She said a co-operatives textile unit could become a possibility.

At Sunday's function, members of Indore Cloth Market Traders' Association expressed their problems and difficulties. They expressed concern over dip in their trade because of closure of city's textile mills.

About 5,000 looms have been set up in Burhanpur. Indore is lagging behind. It is important to understand the reason behind it and take steps accordingly, said Subhash Samre a senior association member.

Another association member Arun Batley suggested that running co-operative textile mills would be the best option. He recommended that textile traders should draw benefit from slew of textile trade measures announced by government.

Surat and Ahmedabad export cotton all over the country. There was a time when Indore enjoyed this status. What has been the reason and how can it be sorted out they need to know, said Arun Batley, a member of the cloth market association.

The cloth market traders' association commended the single window system followed in Gujarat where all formalities are completed and guidance is given. Something on these lines need to be put in place for Indore cloth market too.