INDIA: Textile Industry At Loggerheads Over Dereservation

The Government's new textile policy is being held up by the problematic issue of dereservation of apparel manufacture.A decision on the new policy, which will be based on the findings of an expert committee appointed in 1998, should be reached by the end of the month.During a recent seminar organised by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FICCI) - one of India's three apex Chambers - but not as part of the proceedings, the textile minister Kashiram Rana and his deputy, the secretary of textiles Anil Kumar threw some light on the situation. "The cabinet has sent [the textile policy] to the group of ministers to decide on this and we will announce it shortly," said Kashiram Rana. Anil Kumar added that the decision on the dereservation of garments would be reached by the end of the month.