A delegation of Knitwear and Apparel Exporters Organization in Ludhiana recently sent a MoU to the chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh apprising him of their problems. In the MoU, Harish Dua, President of the Association noted that Ludhiana needs a big international class textile cluster with availability of all essential services.

An MSME unit cannot afford all kinds of machines and services like embroidery, printing, knitting, dyeing, and electronic computerized cutting. Therefore, it will be in the best interest of exporters and manufacturers of garments that a cluster be made in Ludhiana, where all these facilities — along with the latest state -of -the -art machinery is made available at a subsidised cost to members of the cluster.

Narinder Chugh, Executive Council member of Apparel Export Promotion Council emphasised the need to train and mobilise women’s workforce in the state, especially in Ludhiana. The Punjab government, which is already taking several steps to improve business environment in the state, should also start initiatives to set up hostels for working women. The state government can also offer land free of cost for this purpose, besides constructing hostels with aid from the Central government at the earliest.