03-Oct-2013
The Centre is considering a proposal to allocate Rs 3,000 crore to the state for the development of textile industry, Union minister for textiles Kavuri Sambasiva Rao said here today. This would entail establishment of four textiles parks in the state and additional incentives to handloom and powerloom weavers, he added.
He was speaking at the launch of Indian Republic, a retail chain initiative by the National Textile Corporation (NTC), along with K Chiranjeevi, minister of state for tourism. This retail chain will operate through franchise network. Initially, the stores will come up in New Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai. NTC, a Government of India undertaking aims to offer high quality garments at affordable prices to support indigenous weavers and garment manufacturers.
Speaking on the occasion, Rao said ‘’all the international garment sellers in the name of branding offer their merchandise at exorbitant prices, which give them a profit margin to the tune of 100 to 200 per cent. This fetish for international brands has increased our import bill, which had to be countered with the home-grown garment brands.”
Observing that today many indigenous weavers have been pushed into starvation without required patronage for handloom and power loom sectors he said, “to support the weavers and the garment industry in the country the ministry of textiles and the central government have introduced skill development programmes to help them to be on par with the international garment manufactures and would also help us to increase our exports.”
Highlighting the importance of the home-grown weaving and garment manufacturing to the Indian economy, Chiranjeevi said “initiatives like these will help us not only to cater to clothing needs of the youth but give us an opportunity to provide livelihood to lakhs of weavers and garment workers.”
Recalling Gandhi’s words that we Indians should shun foreign-made garments, he said “though we cannot stop importing foreign garments, all we can do is to extend our hand to the local weavers.”
According to NTC managing director RK Sinha by the end of March-2014 the corporation will set up 100 retail stores across the country and within two years there would be around 300 stores. ‘’More importantly the NTC will also generate direct employment to around 4,000 people which will include textile workers in weaving, spinning, processing, garment workers and retail staff.’’
Source:- newindianexpress.com
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