Textile ministry’s North-East Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS) seeks to boost textile exports, increase jobs and curb the migration of workers. The scheme also aims to develop and modernise the textile sector by providing region-specific flexibility in execution with a massive funds infusion.
“Under the scheme, the textile ministry has been providing Rs.18 crore each for setting up of a ready-made garment manufacturing unit or ‘apparel and garment making centre’ (AGMC) in each of the eight north eastern states. It would also provide financial assistance to run the units after their commissioning,” textiles secretary Rashmi Vermahas said at a function in Agartala recently.
Textiles minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar inaugurated the first AGMC in Nagaland on April 6 and the second one in Tripura on April 8.
“The AGMCs in other six states are expected to start functioning in a month. After starting production of all the eight centres, there would be a landmark development in the textile sector in the north eastern region,” she said.
“The AGMCs aim to boost the scopes of employment and exports and curb migration of workers from this region to other parts of the country,” Verma added.
Three hundred Japanese computerised sewing machines will be installed in each of the eight AGMCs. Out of these, 200 machines would be used for manufacturing and 100 for providing training.Each centre will provide direct employment to about 1,500 people, mostly women.
Verma said a host of other schemes are planned for the north eastern states under the NERTPS, which covers projects across the textiles sector ranging from sericulture, handlooms, handicrafts, power looms to apparel and garmenting.
India’s international border with China, Myanmar, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal runs for over 5000 km in the northeast. Some of the states have trade ties with a few of these countries, especially Bangladesh and Myanmar. Thus, the AGMCs can potentially exports readymade apparel to these adjoining and other countries.
