Maharashtra government is working on a niche policy to promote investments in the garment and apparel sector, considering its job potential and boost the ‘Make in Maharashtra’ plans. The policy will focus on setting up garment and apparel units in the cotton-growing areas of Vidarbha and Marathwada, which are also known for agrarian distress and farmer suicides.

Officials said the economic benefits of value-addition to raw cotton would also percolate down to the farmers while generating direct and indirect employment. The government is also considering a special policy for the garment and apparel sector. It will promote such industries and units in Vidarbha and Marathwada, which would create a larger supplier eco-system and increase employment opportunities.

The policy will look at granting fiscal and non-fiscal incentives like land in Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) areas, grant of FSI and allotment of plots for garment and apparel units in the ten textile parks to come up in Vidarbha and Marathwada. Though Maharashtra already has a policy for the textile sector, this niche, sectoral policy for garments and apparels will give a further boost to investments, the official said.

The initiatives would benefit women as well, as the sector employs them in large numbers. It would also create indirect employment due to various “job works” that are given out. The value addition to cotton and cloth will trickle down and eventually ensure a better price for cotton cultivators, the official noted.

The Maharashtra government has also unveiled policies for retail trade, electronics, single-window facilitation, for SC/ST entrepreneurs.