Twilite on the verge of closure in Rampachodavaram

Rampachodavaram: Twilite, a brand name of LED bulbs assembling unit in Rampachodavaram, is on the verge of closure if the government did not extend its support immediately and as many as 40 tribal educated girls will lose their jobs.

TDP government in 2016-17 started the unit to empower tribal educated women in all aspects under the aegis of Rampa Girijana Mahila Samakya Industrial Co-operative Society Limited. Meanwhile, Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) and district administration expressed their helplessness to extend financial assistance to the unit. With this, the fate of 40 tribal women employees is in doll drums.

Speaking to The Hans India here on Saturday, Twilite unit chief promoter K Veera Lakshmi said that in the early days, both ITDA and district administration provided necessary infrastructure to the unit.

Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPDCL) has given an order of Rs 2 crore to Twilight for various category of LED bulbs on the directions of TDP government. Later, the government cancelled Rs 1 crore worth of works order.

With this, the unit is pushed into problems and the production was stopped from the last leg of 2018 as a result Rs 40 lakh worth of raw material was kept idle. Meanwhile, the company has to pay an amount of Rs 46 lakh to Andhra Bank and Rs 37 lakh to ITDA and a panchayat raj contractor of Anakapalle also did not paid Rs 11 lakh to the government.

As per the directions of government, one lakh bulbs were distributed freely to SC/STs and salaries were not paid to 40 employees from last nine months. To give new lease of life to Twilite unit, she said the government should give Rs 1 crore worth of orders which was cancelled and direct the local bodies and other departments to purchase bulbs from Twilight and extend necessary financial assistance.

Though there was a GO directing the departments to purchase products manufactured by tribals but in vain. All the 40 employees working in the company are graduates and engineering graduates.

Twilight manufactures LED bulbs, tube lights, flood lights, streetlights, bed bulbs and flood lights as per order. Lakshmi said that they will meet Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy shortly to request him to provide necessary help to the unit.