Industry needs an overhauling

– Mittal Patel, Director, ABC Corporation, Ahmedabad

The year 2013 was of mixed type for Indian textile industry. On the one hand the mill sector (spinning/weaving) had a good year, the decentralised powerloom weaving sector had one or the other hiccups like power cuts, high tariff in power, labour strikes, some state policies like LBT in Maharashtra, etc.

Textile is the highest employment providing industry in India besides agriculture, so it will always remain a satisfactory growing industry. Also good monsoon season last year will help it to sustain momentum till next season. The industry, particularly weaving, needs an overhauling as it is behaving like an old car asking for replacement immediately. We are at least 15 years behind China in terms of technology and maybe 5 years from even poor countries like Bangladesh and Pakistan. This gap needs to be fulfilled by hi-tech machines in weaving industry and getting good exports order from west only on basis of quality and not some lucrative government scheme/policy.

The wishlist is endless as Indians we are always demanding everything from government and never try to put in that extra efforts like the Chinese or Japanese. The Government should only try to curb corruption (in schemes like TUFS and other subsidies), bring down import duties for machinery not affecting Indian manufacturers, conduct more seminars/exhibitions at subsidised rates in China/USA/Europe to showcase talents and skills of Indian manufacturers.