Garmenting to come under NREGA

Extending the job guarantee programme much beyond digging ponds and building roads, work allotted under NREGA may cover garmenting giving employment to lakhs of people, Textile Secretary Rita Menon has said.

The Textile Ministry has sought clearance from the Planning Commission for providing training to 50 lakh people in the industry, of which 35-40 lakh can be employed in the garmenting sector.

The Rural Development Ministry and the Textile Ministry are working together to "dovetail" the NREGA (National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) programme with the overall skill development initiative in the textile sector, she said.

"We can virtually ensure employment for a number of people in rural areas. The jobs may include garmenting, buttoning, sewing...the NREGA part will cover the garment sector because that is the most easy and least capital intensive," Menon told PTI.

Besides, $25 billion apparel sector is highly labour-intensive with seven million workforce.

Under the NREGA scheme, which was launched in February 2006, the government provides 100 days of assured employment in a year to at least one person in a rural household.

The programme which is credited with contributing to the Congress victory in elections, would be expanded during the UPA government's second tenure.