The powerloom weavers have been demanding input tax credit (ITC) reimbursement, which the central government has refused to refund. Union textiles minister, Smriti Irani has recently visited Surat in Gujarat for a party programme and denied to meet the textile industry representatives.

She urged the traders and powerloom weavers to file a complaint with the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) against dumping of imported fabric from China.

Federation of Gujarat Weavers’ Association (FOGWA), president, Ashok Jirawala feels that the powerloom weaving industry is literally on the deathbed and only the ITC refund will be able to rescue the industry.

Recently, Smriti Irani and the Indian finance (acting) Minister Piyush Goyal in a meeting with Narain Agarwal, chairman, Synthetic and Rayon Textile Export Promotion Council (SRTEPC) have refused to allow input tax credit (ITC) refund to the powerloom weaving sector. Both the ministers stated that the accumulation of ITC in other segments which includes textile processing, embroidery and yarn spinning, will be released soon, according to the sources.

– Apparel and Textile News, Apparel Talk, Indian Apparel