The state government has invited 16 members from industrial associations to be part of the technical advisory committee for development of the textile and handloom industry.

Minister for handlooms and textiles R Gandhi had announced a plan to form the committe during the assembly session on April 28. Commissioner of textiles M Vallalar on May 20 invited members of associations including the Indian Cotton Federation, Confederation of Indian Textile Industry, Southern India Mills’ Association, South India Hosiery Manufacturers Association and the Federation of Indian Export Organisation to be part of it.

The committee will provide solutions to issues in spinning, ready-made garments, knitwear and technical textiles and work on developing the sector. It will be a permanent body with Chennai as the headquarters. The members of the committee will furnish inputs and recommendations to make Tamil Nadu first in the country in terms of textile production. It will hold a meeting once in two months or on an as-needed basis to discuss the matters concerning handlooms and textiles.

“Since infrastructure support is missing for the garment industry in Tirupur, we can provide inputs regarding this to the government,” said Raja M Shanmugham, president of Tiruppur Exporters’ Association, who is named on the committee’s members list. “A knitwear research institute should be set up in Tirupur, as there are several micro and small establishments. Only through representing such needs and issues, the full potential of the textile cluster can be economically realised.”

K Venkatachalam, chief advisor of Tamil Nadu Spinning Mills Association, said he is also ready to be on the committee. “The committee will look after policy suggestions for improvement of the textile industry. It can work on various aspects relating to the development of the sector. The meeting will be constituted only after the committee is constituted,” he said.

Published On : 26-05-2022

Source : The Times of India