The Hindu Business Line : TN textiles all set to become $40-b industry by 2015

Projections indicate that the textile industry in Tamil Nadu is set to become a $40-billion industry by 2015 with the potential to create as many as 50 lakh jobs, according to a study on `Mapping of Human Resources Skills in Tamil Nadu' by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

The study has identified the textile industry as one of Tamil Nadu's high growth sectors. The current sectoral manpower requirement, which is about 45-50 lakh people, is likely to touch 95 to 100 lakh by 2015.

In a press release, CII said the textile industry is influenced by government policy support, globalisation and the impact of the World Trade Organisation, supply chain integration and development in retailing and technology.

Tamil Nadu is positioned to capitalise on the post-WTO scenario, since the State has an established textile base and is home to more than 40 per cent of the large and medium-sized spinning mills in India. The State produces a third of the country's spun yarn, the study said.

The study said spinning, weaving and processing have matured as capital intensive and not labour intensive segments of the textile industry while knitting and garmenting have evolved to be low capital and labour intensive.

The CII study reveals that the spinning sector focuses on cotton procurement, adoption of modern manufacturing practices and eliminating wastage at all levels. This segment increasingly needs multi-tasking, multi-skilling at the operator level and automation.

However, its lacks personnel with commercial orientation in wastage reduction and good interpersonal skills at the junior level. It also lacks people with persuasive skills, team building, problem solving, knowledge on the latest technological advances and commercial orientation at the supervisory level.

In weaving and knitting, the skill gaps exist with non-availability of workers with interpersonal skills and quality orientation. Also, the industry finds it difficult to recruit supervisory staff with team building and problem solving ability and knowledge on latest technologies.

In processing, the industry needs workers with operation knowledge, quality orientation, ability to operate computer-aided colour matching and maintenance skills. At the supervisory level, the skill gaps identified are managing attrition and expertise in sourcing needs, team building and problem solving technical knowledge.

In garments, the industry needs workers with good communication skills, active supervision, training skills and aptitude for repetitive jobs. At the supervisory level, the garment industry does not have enough people with communication skills, knowledge of fabrics and aptitude for active supervision.