The garment traders of Surat in Gujarat are fighting for their survival. While textile and diamond industries have reduced the consumption of goods, unemployment at grass root levels has been a matter of serious concern for more than a year now. Most workers from the erstwhile fledgeling textile Surat textile industry have migrated to other cities and states. Reportedly, more than half of the garment workers are facing serious economic conditions. The recent 31st meeting of the GST Council had little to offer on the plight of textile workers not only in Surat but to those in UP, Bihar too.
Textile Business owners in Surat express their concern equally over the choking economic crisis. Over 50 textile mills are facing closure. With the majority of the business at a stand-still, Nearly 2-3 Lakh individuals (mostly from UP, Bihar, and Rajasthan) from the working class has migrated to their respective states and villages.
No GST on Textiles?
In light of no major financial respites, textile traders across the country are compelled to start a NO-GST movement to attract attention to their plights. The Industry grievance is against GST on Textile when even post independence no tax was imposed on textiles. A demand to eliminate GST from clothes may gain momentum in the coming months. Textile merchants once again have been preparing to repeat their demand by sending a delegation to the Gujarat Government and the Central Government.
