Author(s): Dr. Minakshi Jain

Abstract:
The textiles and garment sector is a major source of export earnings, government revenue and employment for India. The sector also contributes significantly to the gross domestic product of Indian economy. Indian textile sector is facing many challenges around the globe, especially post-COVID economic recession and rising cost of production. Therefore, mapping of the human resource requirements and their enhancement to facilitate skilled labour is required for the entire gamut of the textile industry. The shortage of skilled manpower is a major constraint affecting the growth of the Indian textile industry which needs a lot of augmentation and technical and financial assistance from both governments and foreign development partners. To overcome the huge skill gap Integrated Skill Development Scheme has been launched to train workers in various segments - textiles, apparel, handlooms, handicrafts, sericulture, jute etc. and sophisticated HRD strategies for better performance. With the objectives of sustainable HRD and promoting R&D to improve productivity across the entire textiles value chain, the Strategic Plan (2011-16) of the Ministry of Textiles focused on skill promotion of all textile workers and creation of new employment opportunities. Integration of sustainability in HRD has become a new central organizing focus for apparel and textiles higher education. Today’s textile trainees are prospective human resources for textile and apparel industry. Our textile education institutes require producing most efficient, highly competitive, technologically updated, resourceful, creative, environment friendly, skilful managers. The HR engaged in T&G industry must be acquainted with the impact of all of the production, distribution, consumption and disposal activities on physical, social, ethical and economic environment, including total quality management, eco-textiles, waste control, recycling, product life cycle analysis, CSR, labour laws, social welfare and healthy labour practices etc. The challenges like sweatshops, child labour, low wages, unhealthy work environment, lack of social capital for technology adaption, need of quality and creativity led policies rather than increasing the quantity of workforce, lack of academia and industry linkage and many more must be treated appropriately for better development of human resources in textile and garment industry. The proper strategy of curriculum designs and models can play a key role in the textile and apparel industry and institutions for generating better resourceful, eco-efficient, cost-efficient, customer-friendly, ethical and socially responsible human resources and by this means nurturing the fascinating dream of sustainable lifestyle of the people around the globe.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.22271/23957476.2022.v8.i3d.1378