The Federation of Indian Export Organisation (FIEO) along with the Textile Sector Skill Council (TSC) organised an interactive session with textile manufacturers in Amritsar. Among the speakers was Swapna Mishra, director, Textile Sector Skill Council (TSSC). She explained the functioning and working of the Council and informed industrialists about government’s subsidies for training of employees. The industry could benefit from the schemes to train current employees or they could make a new cluster of people for training. She also stressed that this would create employment, skilled labour pool in Amritsar as the local units are facing shortage of workers.
The textile industry in Amritsar was once called the ‘Manchester of India’ is struggling due to global slowdown. The sector is being hurt by constant hike in raw material prices, electricity rates, VAT charges, property tax and so on. Manufacturers and traders are passing on the high input cost to retailers. High tax also prevents dealers from getting registered.
Shawl Club secretary Piara Lal Seth informed the gathering that over 47 new units of shawl manufacturing with 400 shuttle-less rapier looms with electronic jacquards came up between 2002 and 2013. Most of these units were Woolmark licensees. About 4,500 latest embroidery machines have been installed from 2002-2009 for value additions. Dyeing and finishing, woolen and worsted spinning mills, cone dyeing of yarns and printing industries are well established here to support the textile industry in Amritsar which now stands to the international standards.
