Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has stressed the need for holistic development of the jeans and readymade garment cluster in Ballari with proper banking and financial support, infrastructure, training and other policy initiatives.
“I am amazed by the talent and entrepreneurial zeal of the textile workers of Ballari. Considering the historical ties of apparel production in the city, I feel there is a dire need of a marketing strategy to popularize Ballari jeans and apparel products. The Jeans and Readymade Garment cluster requires state support in terms of financial assistance, infrastructure development, training of the workforce and other policy initiatives. We need to have a clear strategy to make the industry more profitable.”
He was speaking in sequence of interactions with working communities and civil society groups on a daily basis as part of the Bharat Jodi Yatra with the owners and owners of jeans and readymade garment manufacturing units at Moka village in Ballari district on Sunday.
When one participant pointed out during the discussion that Ballari has always been considered a small Bangladesh given the large number of garment manufacturing units in that country, Mr. Gandhi said that Bellary should be developed in such a way that Bangladesh becomes a mini-Bangladesh. Call it Ballari. ,
When Dadapir, a tailor, told his story of how he started with a sewing machine a decade ago and developed a unit now employing 250 women, Mr. Gandhi expressed his desire to visit the unit. However, logistics was an obstacle.
“Skyrocketing raw material prices and irrational allegation of 5% GST” [Goods and Service Tax] are pushing the textile industry into deep trouble. The government, which is supposed to help small scale industries with financial assistance and other policy initiatives, is doing everything which is putting the industry in further distress,” Dadapir said.
Other employees and unit owners immediately joined Dadapir and aired their grievances that many units are facing closure due to unfavorable policies of the government.
Textile supplier Srinivas Reddy said that earlier every household had an entrepreneur and they became workers in the industry due to government policies unfavorable to the small scale garment industry.
In his response, Mr. Gandhi said that the BJP government has made policies that are harmful to small and medium industries and favorable to big ones. He said that after his party comes to power in the state, Bellary will do everything to address all the issues of the apparel industry and make it world famous.
“I am well aware of the difficulties that the owners and workers of small and medium firms are facing. Once we take power in the state, we will definitely make Bellary an example of real Make in India,” he said.
talking to Hindu After the interaction, Shashikant Senthil, Chairman of the Interaction Committee of the Bharat Jodi Yatra, described Mr. Gandhi’s interactions with the workers and owners of apparel units in Ballari as the most fruitful of Mr. Gandhi’s discussions during the Bharat Jodi Yatra.
“Mr. Gandhi has been interacting with a wide range of affected people, experts and activists during the Bharat Jodi Yatra in every state. The interaction in Karnataka is very satisfying for me as the participants in the talks were largely from the grassroots level. The way Mr. Gandhi is connecting with him and understanding his issues is amazing. Everyone who interacts with him is a testament to his humility and concern,” Mr. Senthil said.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President DK Shivakumar, senior party leader Digvijay Singh, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council BK Hariprasad, Ballari corporator Prabhanjan Kumar and others were present in the discussion.