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Nepalese Textile Industry needs Attention & support from Government

Maryada News 3 years ago
Nepalese Textile Industry needs Attention & support from Government

None of the country can achieve a better standard of Living without proper development of Trade, Commerce & Industry. Thus commercialization of its economic structure has a citical role in overall development of the country. In Nepal, the Textile sector is accorded importance due to the fact that it is Labor intensive. It generates employment opportunities to the sizable section of the country's population. Importance of this sector is also realized because of the increase in the demand for textile by the increasing population. The demonstration effect has also leaded the people to use more of textiles which are partly contributed by the national & international media. The growth of Export- Oriented Garments has increased the demand for Textiles.

Credit goes to Late Tulsimehar Shrestha for introducing modern weaving activity in Nepal. He learnt "Spinning" & "Weaving" in "Mahatma Gandhi's Ashram" in India.

History shows that the Textile Industry of Nepal has remained inter-related with that of India as they developed basically in 1920s & in 1930s. Credit goes to Late Tulsimehar Shrestha for introducing modern weaving activity in Nepal. He learnt "Spinning" & "Weaving" in "Mahatma Gandhi's Ashram" in India. After he returned to Nepal from the Ashram in 1921, he was offered "Cash" & "Charkha" for the promotion of weaving skill by the Prime Minister Chandra Shumsher. It was during that period, that the Hand Looms were introduced in Nepal & the Production of Woven Fabrics started.

"Tri-Chandra Kamdhenu Charkha Pracharak Mahaguthi" introduced spinning & weaving during 1926, which was a mile stone in the development of Textile Industry in Nepal. Subsequently, a handloom Textile industry was introduced in the "Central Jail" for the prisoners. In 1930s, a three year weaving Training programme was later on extended to Marsyngdi & Pokhara. Gradually, many spinning, Weaving, Wet-Processing (Dyeing, Printing, Washing, Finishing etc.) & "Garments Industry" started their Production. And, Later this sector becomes back-bone to support the major national economy to earn foreign currency.

"Tri-Chandra Kamdhenu Charkha Pracharak Mahaguthi" introduced spinning & weaving during 1926, which was a mile stone in the development of Textile Industry in Nepal. Subsequently, a handloom Textile industry was introduced in the "Central Jail" for the prisoners. 

As a result of the above factors, government of Nepal has chalked out plans & programs for the development of tetile industry in Nepal in a planned manner & on a wider scale. In the seventh plan document (1985-1990), the textile sector was put in the category of basic necessities of life. the other basic necessities of life were food grain, fuel, wood, drinking water, primary health care & sanitation, primary & skill based education etc have been put in the category of industries that have received national priority.

The government maintains that the private sector should take a lead role in the production of the textile clothes. As such, it has made a commitment to create a favourable climate for the development of textile industry in the private sector, in this regard; foreign investment in this sector is also encouraged. Additionally, government of Nepal has also assured for providing necessary incentives to this industry from the foreign competition. The seventh plan (1985-1990) clearly indicated that only such clothes that can not be produced internally would be allowed to be imported in the country.

In order to Sustain & Upgrade "Textile Industries" of Nepal, serious attention is needed from the Government of Nepal to provide duty free / subsidery on Textile raw materials.

Under the 15-Years Basic needs programme beginning from 1985 each Nepali was assured of 11 meters of clothes (which excluded its use for Bed-Sheet, Furnishings etc) through the domestic production by the end of the century.A number of plans & programs were formulated to achieve this national goals. In the eighth plan (1992-1997), thurst was given for equal protection to all indigenous Textile industries which produced materials like yarn, Fabrics, Garments etc. It was envisaged that such a policy could enable the textile Industries to intensify their exports to foreign countries.

In order to Sustain & Upgrade "Textile Industries" of Nepal, serious attention is needed from the Government of Nepal to provide duty free / subsidery on Textile raw materials. However, there is a lack of continuity in government's thurst for the development of textile sector following the movement for the restoration democracy in 1989-1990. Perhaps the successive governments formed after the collapse of 30 yesrs old Panchayat System of government in 1990.

It was believed that the priority accorded to the textile sector under the minimum basic needs programme was the part of the program of the Panchayat Government. Therefore, instead of giving focus on the fulfillment of minimum basic needs of the people, priority was shifted in the eighth plans & in the nineth plan on the poverty allevation. 

- Er. Prakash Jha
Coordinator (Technical Comittee/ Textile)
National Skill Texting Board (NSTB), CTEVT
Nepal

 

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