Apparel-August 2020 | Page 21

Report kickstart operations post lockdown. However, it is important that Banks respond to these measures and implement these loan schemes within the next four to five weeks so as to allow a quick start to operations to help the economic growth in the country. Since a majority of the Garment Manufacturing units would come under the MSME criteria, CMAI is of the belief that these measures would be a boost for the sector. A similar support is required for Garment Retailers and Traders. Currently they are not covered by MSME registration. The survival of Retailers is important to create demand and avoid bad debts to the MSME manufacturers. Further many MSME members are dependent on the sub-contract orders from Large Manufactures, Exporters, and Retailers. Since the entire value chain is impacted, support package has to be made available to the entire Textile and Apparel Value chain (Textile to Retail – MSME and Large Companies). CMAI requested the Finance Minister once more to provide support to small manufacturers by providing direct grants for payment of wages in the lock down period up to September 2020. Small manufacturers will not be able to sustain the losses from lockdown and subsequent slow-down in demand. Absence of such grants could lead to up to 30 per cent of the units closing down permanently leading to a loss of almost one crore jobs in the Textile and Apparel Value chain.. CMAI also requested the Hon'ble Finance Minister to once again provide support to small manufacturers by providing direct grants for payment of wages in the lockdown period upto september 2020 otherwise they may not be able to sustain their losses from the subsequent slow-down in demand APPAREL I August 2020 I 19