Welcoming the special package for the garment sector recently approved by the Union Cabinet, the Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (Texprocil) has urged the government to extend the same to home textiles sector.

The announcement of special package for labour intensive apparel sector envisaging higher growth in export of apparel products and job creation over the next three years is a welcome step, Texprocil chairman, R K Dalmia said in a statement.

However, he expressed deep concern for ignoring to consider home textiles sector in the special package, which is as labour intensive as the apparel sector. He said the process is the same i.e. adding value after cutting the fabric and using trims, etc. in the manufacture of finished products.

“Extending the present special package benefit to home textiles sector will not only lead to substantial increase in employment in rural India but will also augment export of home textile products. This in turn will bring about higher fabric consumption and capacity building in the downstream industry resulting in inclusive growth in the entire textile and apparel value chain,” Dalmia said.

While appreciating the government’s decision in acknowledging the need to support apparel sector, he stated that the fabric and home textiles industry was ignored in the special package in spite of several representations and justifying presentations made by Texprocil.

He appealed to the government to consider treating all the ‘cut and sew’ products (including home textiles and made-ups) for granting benefits under the special package for employment generation and promotion of export, at par with apparel products.