Leadership

Visionary leadership

The cluster draws on the experience and stature of leaders who have shaped Ichalkaranji's textile industry for decades.

Mr. K. B. Awade

Founder & Patron

As Minister of State for Industries and Urban Development, Government of Maharashtra, Mr. K. B. Awade pioneered the growth of industry across the region. He played an instrumental role in establishing organisations such as the Navmaharashtra Spinning Mill and the Indira Gandhi Spinning Mill.

The Dattajirao Kadam Technical Education Society (DKTE), founded by him in Ichalkaranji, has long imparted techno-academic education, turning out engineers and technocrats of high calibre and branching into education from kindergarten to higher studies. Bilateral agreements with renowned universities in the USA have enabled mutual co-operation and the exchange of knowledge, and DKTE has been granted Centre of Excellence for Non-Woven Textiles by the Union Government.

His stature in social life has earned him a place of pride in Maharashtra, and the cluster is honoured to count him among its inspirations.

Mr. Prakash Awade

Former Minister of Textiles, Maharashtra

Mr. Prakash Awade, former Minister of Textiles, Government of Maharashtra, is a widely respected figure who has made extensive efforts to promote the textile industry. As Minister, he recommended and announced a 23-point rejuvenation scheme for the textile industry, offering relief through low-cost electricity, interest subsidy and a 50% waiver on overdue loans — support that helped the power-loom industry through crisis.

He championed the diversification of conventional power looms into value-added activities such as garment making and hosiery. His vision of transforming the textile town into a hi-tech city has taken shape in the wake of globalisation, with Ichalkaranji becoming the country’s largest centre of shuttle-less looms. An ambitious textile park and industrial estate on 200 acres is being developed to provide ultra-modern infrastructure for the region’s growing textile and allied industries — a future hub for technical textiles, garments and other high-end textile products.

Mr. Swapnil Awade

Chairman, Mahalaxmi & Awade Industries

Mr. Swapnil Awade serves as Chairman of Mahalaxmi and Awade Industries. Under his leadership, Mahalaxmi has grown from a domestic garment firm into a world-class player in garment manufacturing — expanding from a mere 10 stitching machines to a facility of over 1,000 machines for stitching, cutting, washing and dyeing, and further into state-of-the-art specialty machines that are among very few in India.

Note: the full board and committee list is being finalised. Additional office-bearers and directors will be added here.