TN to unveil new textile policy

CHENNAI: The State government will soon announce a new textile policy as part of its efforts to promote investment and facilitate employment creation in the textile sector in Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi said here on Saturday.


Addressing the gathering after giving away the prestigious Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (Texprocil) Awards for excellence in exports, Karunanidhi said Tamil Nadu was the only State with a complete textile chain including spinning and weaving capacities besides accounting for 75 per cent of the knitted garment production.

Stating that his government had taken a number of initiatives realising the importance of the textile sector, he said sales tax on hank yarn was abolished helping 6 lakh handloom weavers.

The sale of cotton by the Cotton Corporation of India has been exempted from VAT. TN government was the first in the country to pay premium on behalf of handloom weavers for their health insurance.

To protect the welfare of handloom and powerloom workers and their families, welfare boards were set up. Free power supply is being made to handloom weavers (100 units) and powerloom weavers (500 weavers) on a bi-monthly basis. The scheme of free distribution of dhotis and saris implemented at a cost of Rs 300 crore provides employment to 20,000 persons in powerlooms and 15,000 in handlooms every year.

“Approval for setting up five integrated textile parks at Kumarapalayam, Cuddalore, Vadipatti, Andipatti and Karur has boosted textile investment in the State. An attractive textile policy will be announced soon which will further promote investment and employment in the textile sector,” he noted. Lauding Union Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran for his efforts in modernisation of NTC Mills besides several other initiatives in textile sector, he said the former was delivering ‘as he was his grandson.’ Chairman, Texprocil, V S Velayutham, said the State government should ensure peak hour power supply in the coming weeks to help exporters meet their shipping commitments.

The Texprocil awards function, since its institution in 1975-76, had been held only in Mumbai. Chennai became the first city to host Texprocil function after Mumbai on Saturday.