The Indian government has constituted an eight member committee to come up with a roadmap for doubling domestic production in the next three years as well as quadrupling exports from the country.
To be chaired by Sunil Sethi, chairman, Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), the panel has been advised to submit a preliminary report within one month, the Government of India (GoI) has informed. The scope of work to be undertaken by the expert panel includes suggesting a strategy and a policy framework for doubling production, and for improving the quality of handloom products manufactured in India.
Besides this, it shall also suggest ways to facilitate collaboration between handloom weaver agencies and designers. Also, It will suggest ways and means to improve marketing of products; and input supplies, the official communiqué read.
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The committee has been tasked with submitting its preliminary recommendations within 30 days, which shall be followed with the submission of the final report within 45 daysm starting from the day of constitution, it added.
Recently, Union Textiles Minister, Piyush Goyal had emphasised the need to double India’s handloom exports within three years along with the quantum of exports.
NIFT Professor, Sudha Dhingra, Saudamini Handlooms owner, Anagha Gaisas; Fashion Designer, Suket Dhir, Freelance writer, Shefali Vaidya; Sunil Alagh, K N Prabhu and Hetal R Mehta have been appointed as members of this committee.
The development comes in the backdrop of a recent statement by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, wherein he had urged missions and industrialists based abroad to help develop overseas markets for products manufactured in India.
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Reportedly, the government is targeting to push the volume of India’s handloom exports to Rs. 10,000 crore within three years.
