Be it an export promotion council relating to textile and apparel industry, like the AEPC, EPCH, or bodies like CMAI, GEA, TEA, Knitwear Club, Ludhiana, GEAR, Jaipur, one would find hardly any women at their helm.
In AEPC, women comprise only about 19 per cent of the staff, which does not include even a single woman in the EC (Executive Committee) of AEPC. It is almost the same story with the CMAI, or for that matter, with any of the other associations/councils.
Vijay Mathur, Additional Secretary General, AEPC, Gurgaon claims, “There is no specific reason for it. Out of the 165 employees, 31 are women in AEPC. Human Resources and Economic divisions are headed by women in the top management. Time has come for women in the garment industry to come forward and participate in policy-making platforms of AEPC as well.”
Rahul Mehta, President, CMAI, Mumbai says, “We have Sharmila Nadkarni (Founder of Desi Belle brand) with us. Similarly, our regional committee in Pune includes Meenal Joshi. We always welcome women entrepreneurs, who can represent the industry in a better way. I personally feel that our industry lacks women entrepreneurs.”
He also said that the CMAI had requested yet another top woman entrepreneur to join its board, who, however, had humbly declined on grounds of insufficient time.
Ajit Lakra, MD of Superfine Knitters, Head Textile Federation of Industry and Commercial Organisation, and President of Ludhiana Knitters Association, said, “I admit that women are totally missing in all such associations, and even in the industry’s top rung. I believe the society’s male-dominated nature is to blame for this. Involvement of women needs to become a culture in the industry. I strongly believe that their caliber, ability to work hard and sense of responsibility will have a good impact on the industry. Women are instinctively gifted with a strong sense of fashion understanding.”
Sharing his experience in this respect, Lakra said, “One of my factories is authorised for training under Skill India. I talk to every batch, and ask the women, if they would like to work in my factory, and sadly only 2 per cent of them show willingness to do so. They cite several problems, like factories being far from their homes, their family being against women going out to work, etc.”
It is time, the Indian associations learned a bit from Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), where at one point of time, there were 14 women in its committee.
