Garment trade heads for slump
The Statesman, India
Statesman News Service
KOLKATA, July 18: The readymade garments business, though thriving in the state, may soon experience a slump if the government does not take immediate steps to stop labour exodus and ensure steady supply of power.
Addressing the Press at the inaugural ceremony of the 32nd Buyers Sellers Meet in the city today, Mr Vijay Kariwala, president designate of the West Bengal Garment Manufacturers and Dealers Association, said the sector grew at a rate of 20 per cent last year. “The trend is likely to continue as there is a huge demand for our products but we have to overcome a number of constraints,†he said.
The supply of skilled manpower and people with practical training are needed for the growth of the sector. “Designers from premiere designing institutes need to be trained all over again because they have a lot of theoretical knowledge but no sense of practical application of the knowledge,†Mr Kariwala said. Workers are going away from West Bengal to states like Maharashtra, Gujarat and Delhi because of market fluctuations in the region.
