While addressing his maiden Press Conference in Dehradun on Saturday after assuming charge as the Union Minister of State for Textile, Ajay Tamta vowed to create one crore employment opportunities. He said that following the footsteps of Agriculture Ministry, Textile Ministry too would generate huge volume of employment.
He further said that export would see a boost in the coming years. “The textile industry depends on cotton, we are going all out to widen the net of the Ministry involving as many people as possible as far as generation of employment is concerned,” the Union Minister said.
Tamta said that Narendra Modi led NDA regime is going to celebrate National Handloom Day in Varanasi on August 7 to boost handlooms across the country. “We are committed to stay with the families of the handloom artisans,” he said. He also announced that the Union government is going to build a textile park.
Invoking his humble background, the Union Minister said that he comprehended the hardships the poor undergo in their struggle for survival. “We are committed to bettering their standard of living in tune with the announcement made by the PM from the ramparts of the Red Fort, saying that the NDA Government under him is meant for the poor. We are doing everything to fulfill the PM’s pledge on the ground,” Tamta said.
He said just after the
agriculture sector which generates the highest number of employment comes the textile sector. “Currently, 4.5 crore families are directly or indirectly associated with the booming textile industry. Our target is to promote the organised and the unorganised sectors both so as to ensure that everybody gets employment. We have set a target to generate one crore additional employments in this sector. Uttrakhand will benefit from this too,” he said.
MP from Almora, Tamta is representing four districts under Kumaon division. He said he had served three districts-Chamoli, Rudrapryag and Uttarkashi-in the past as the Minister in-charge. “Besides, as a State Cabinet minister I worked in the horticulture sector. I know the pulse of the people and what they need. The high altitude people are directly involved in woolen clothes as part of the enduring tradition. Besides, there is a tradition of their being associated with brass and bronze work. We would do everything to rise to the challenge of transforming their lives through development,” he said.
Referring to the proposed Textile Park, the Union Minister said that the Union Government has set its norms. “As part of which the Government of the State where it would be established must fulfill four to five conditions,” he said. He, however, declined to comment where the park would come up.
“Currently, we are working on Rs1000-1500 crore cluster park and Rs15000-Rs25000 crore mega cluster park. We are all set to sign MoU with the designers to expand the horizon,” he said.
“Textile industry spreads from yarn to garment. 40 percent of garments is manufactured with cotton. 40 percent we use domestically. We export the remainder. As cotton prices are going up the prices of its product will also go up proportionately,” Tamta said.