Apparel export body keen to do its bit for rural employment scheme

The Apparel Export Promotion Council AEPC is keen to participate in the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme by imparting training in apparel making under the employment scheme for the poor.

"We have written to the planning commission and the proposal is also with the textiles ministry," AEPC chairman Premal Udani said in Coimbatore on Thursday.

Training in apparel making could be made part of NREGS for which the industry could contribute Rs50 per worker per day initially, he said.

Once the worker is employed, the industry would give an amount equivalent to the government's contribution to the scheme.

The government could take a base year for ascertaining the regular workforce in the apparel segment and for incremental jobs created by the industry, NREGS funds can be provided.

Though the industry is not facing labour shortage now, it would face problems once the domestic and export markets start growing at a faster pace, Udani said.