India is a traditional textile-producing country with textiles in general, and cotton in particular, being major industries for the country. India is among the world's top producers of yarns and fabrics, and the export quality of its products is ever increasing. Textile Industry in India is a self-reliant and independent industry and has great diversification and versatility.
The Indian Textile Industry has an overwhelming presence in the economic life of the country. Apart from providing one of the basic necessities of life i.e. cloth, the textile industry contributes about 14% to the country's industrial output and about 17% to export earnings. This industry provides employment to the maximum number of people in India, employing 35 million people. Besides, another 50 million people are engaged in allied activities.
On the eve of the Eleventh Five Year Plan, this sector is conceived in a much stronger position than it was at any point in the last six decades. The abolition of quota regime, a buoyant economy, and a conducive policy environment provided by the Government have put the industry on the path of rapid growth. Simultaneously, based on achievements of targets made in the Tenth Plan in different sectors, the path forward in Eleventh Plan is worked out.
The Government of India has initiated a number of schemes. They are aimed at overall balanced growth of all the sectors, increasing job opportunities, increased per capita availability of cloth to clothe and better living standard to the growing middle class having surplus disposable income and growing population every year itself provides immense opportunities in the domestic market and thus preparing a roadmap of this vital industry growth on domestic as well as for capturing a higher share of 7% from present 3 - 4% in international trade.
This paper is focused on the growth of Indian Textile and Clothing sector along with some strategies which can be implemented in order to enhance value addition to the Indian cotton sector which will be profitable to farmers and to the economy as a whole.
Originally Published in Textile Review, August-2011
Dr. D. Jublee is Professor with Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International School of Textiles and Management, Coimbatore and K. Alfred Jesud is Assistant Professor with Brahma School of Business, Namakkal.
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