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Gorakhpur is poised to become a textile hub with readymade garments being made the second ODOP product of the district after terracotta. The business of readymade garments is such that one may employ more people in less capital.
This view was expressed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath while addressing entrepreneurs of readymade garments at ODOP-Readymade Garments Exhibition going on at Town Hall grounds in Gorakhpur from March 16. The chief minister went around the exhibition and visited stalls and interacted with the entrepreneurs.
Observing that 15,000 people had got direct employment in readymade garments units with a capital of Rs 350 crore in Gorakhpur alone, the chief minister said, "So much of employment with so little capital investment is not possible in any other sector. This is possible only through traditional enterprise through MSMEs."
The chief minister said the target was to take the number of employment in the readymade garments units from 15,000 to 50,000.
He announced that a CM flatted factory of readymade garments would be set up in Gorakhpur soon.
He said the state government had launched the highly successful One District One Product (ODOP) Scheme in February 2018 to realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a self-reliant India. He said that in COVID-19 period, 10,000 migrant workers working in the readymade garments sector alone had returned to Gorakhpur.
"After having included readymade garments in the ODOP Scheme, this will help migrant artisans to work in Gorakhpur itself," the chief minister said while pointing out that "the entrepreneurs are taking interest and the administration has also come forward to help them".
The chief minister has already issued comprehensive guidelines to the authorities to ensure easy availability of loans to MSMEs in the Aatmanirbhar package.
"In four years, we have explored the possibilities to give market to the traditional and local products and an action plan is being prepared accordingly," the chief minister said.
He asked the entrepreneurs to pay attention to quality and training as well as making preparations according to the requirement of the market.
Emphasising on need-based training institutes, Yogi Adityanath expressed happiness that the Northern India Textile Research Association (NITRA), an organisation of the Union Textiles Ministry, had trained entrepreneurs in Gorakhpur.
The chief minister said that at present Gorakhpur had a textile market of about Rs 2500 crore, out of which readymade garments worth Rs 2,000 were supplied from outside .
"In the coming days, the entrepreneurs may grab this external market by producing and marketing the locally made garments," he said.
The chief minister said of a total population of about 55 lakh in Gorakhpur, there were about 25 lakh women who could be encouraged to take up entrepreneurship.
"The readymade garments business can become the basis of self-reliance of women," he suggested.