16 years & still waiting for garment complex

Readymade garment manufacturers of Jabalpur are disappointed because the Madhya Pradesh government has failed to keep promise with them.

After a long wait of 16 years, a ceremony for foundation laying of a complex of common facilities for garment manufacturers, which was supposed to take place on February 15 has been postponed.

The garment manufacturing unit owners that supply and outsource readymade garments like salwar suits, shirts, nightgowns, skirts etc, to various known and popular brands of India and abroad at affordable prices are running from pillar to post to obtain land for the complex for the last 16 years.

The Central government had floated a project to create a garment complex for Jabalpur Garment Manufacturers with an initial investment of Rs 45-50 crore. The Central government will assist 75 per cent, state government will contribute 10 per cent and manufacturers will contribute 15 per cent.

The complex was supposed to be a multi-storeyed building with separate space of 1,600 sq ft for each manufacturer. It will be equipped with a common washing plant, a testing lab, design and display, marketing support and export facility etc.

Few years back a Kolkata-based consultant, Shreya Consultant, had been deployed by the Central government to give a report in this regard. Besides Southern and Western India, the garment manufacturers also cater to other part of the country and are now taking on with big brands by creating home-made brands like "Club-Fox".

The garment manufacturers not only cater to home demand but also export to Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and the UAE, Canada and to those countries where Indian or people of Indian origin live. "Jabalpur made salwar suits are high in demand," an office-bearer of the Jabalpur Garment Manufacturing Association said .

The increasing congestion, dwindling space and increasing real estate prices have restricted the small units to their homes.

"The members of Jabalpur Garment Manufacturers Association employ as many as 20,000 persons. We have been told that Central government is not supporting the project. The foundation laying ceremony has been postponed in absence of central support," said Sanjay Arihant, an office-bearer of the Association.

Earlier Madhya Pradesh Audyogik Kendra Vikas Nigam "" an arm of state industries department"" had offered land near Richhai Industrial zone, which according to the Association "is an isolated place".

Now Madhya Pradesh Laghu Udyog Nigam (MPLUN) lobbying with the Centre on behalf of the manufacturers. Prior to that District Industry Centre was dealing with it. Madhya Pradesh Housing Board is also learnt to have made a futile attempt to deal with the Centre to create the complex.

"The MPLUN has offered us an area of 12 acres in prime business locality of Gurandi but land cost is very high in range of Rs 1,000-1,200 sq ft. Jabalpur Municipal Corporation is considering our demand to offer some concession on it," said Arihant.

As many as 175 members already have contributed through a bank deposit of an amount of Rs 16.65 lakh against the state government assurance. MPLUN officials were not available for comment.