Textiles sector to drive Skill India, Make in India: Panda

Textiles Secretary S K Panda today said the sector will be the driving force behind Skill India and Make in India campaigns as it has the potential to create 45-50 per cent of the direct jobs in rural India.
He was addressing the Indian Cotton Conference 2015 organised by Indian Cotton Association Limited (ICAL) and Northern India Textile Mills Association (NITMA) here.
Suggesting for branding Indian cotton against the world labels, Textiles Commissioner Kavita Gupta emphasised on technical R&D needed to increase productivity.
She said that average cotton productivity in India is 528 kg per hectare wherein the same stands 2,196 in Australia and 963 in the US.

President NITMA H S Cheema illustrated the China scenario and suggested that the government should provide direct subsidy to the farmers.
At the event, Suresh Kotak Chairman Kotak and Company was presented a lifetime achievement award for his contribution of more than 60 years to the cotton industry.