Apparel Online India Magazine May 1-15, 2019 | Page 36

INDUSTRY LIVE
When will India have its own
Rubana Huq?
A
Look at the picture on this page...,
Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina (R) is congratulating Dr. Rubana
Huq on winning the Board of Directors of
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and
Exporters Association (BGMEA) elections
and becoming the first-ever female
President of BGMEA. With more than
4,300 members, the 36-year-old BGMEA
is a national trade organisation of apparel
manufacturers in Bangladesh. Dr. Rubana
Huq represents the Sammilita Forum panel
which won all 35 posts for directors in the
polls held on 6 April. She is also the MD of
Mohammadi Group and her husband Late
Annisul Huq was also a former BGMEA
President. Mohammadi Group diversified
into various business segments and works
with top global brands like H&M, Walmart,
Target, COS, Sears, Springfield, El Corte
Ingles and many more. Besides, Rubana
has featured in BBC 100 Women in 2013
and 2014 and her list of achievements are
diversified, quite long and impressive. Isn’t
it therefore high time to have an honest
reality-check of the Indian textile, apparel
and handicraft industry where not even a
single woman across the country is at the
helm in any export promotion council,
association or trade bodies? (Buying
Agents Association, Delhi being the only
exception). Leave apart holding a position
at the helm, none of the women of the
core working committee seem to be really
active at the forefront during any major
initiative or development of any such
organisation… This is despite the fact that
the apparel sector is one of the largest
woman employers in India and most of
the day-to-day management of apparel
exporters is being looked after and taken
care of by women only.
pparel Online India identified
and approached 12 such large
trade bodies which are quite active
and aggressive for the development
of the industry and few of them
shared their views on this issue.
They claim that women are there in
their organisation at various levels.
Although women do need to come
forward and work hard to create
their space, and for that, they have
to have their own strong business
which is currently not as strong. Many
men who are leading several reputed
organisations are also strongly of the
view that anyone should not be judged
on gender basis. If he or she is capable
and active, then they will make a
difference.
Trade bodies’
official stand
As far as Indian apparel exporters’
official body – Apparel Export
Promotion Council (AEPC),
Gurgaon, is concerned, it has only
two women (professionals and not
owners) working in its total nine
subcommittees. It replied…
ANY OTHER NAME, BESIDES...
1. Dipali Goenka,
CEO & JMD, Welspun India
2. Suchita Jain,
Director, Vardhman Textiles Ltd.
POSITIVE ASPECTS
• Irrespective of all above-
mentioned facts and views, the
good thing is that when it comes
to industry level roles, especially
at the SME level and companies
doing business worth Rs. 50 crore
or Rs. 100 crore or even more,
there are hundreds of women
who are leading the business
as entrepreneurs or are actively
involved as co-owners.
• Industry segments like fashion
designers, retail – especially
online, have comparatively better
women representation as dozens
of women have not only initiated
their venture, but are continuing
these with good growth.
At present, the absence of elected
“Way back in the year 1985 to 1988,
we had Sushma Gulati, member of EC, woman EC members is because of
associated with us. Similarly Shashi woman representatives not coming
Nangia, MD, Swati Exim, had been a forward to participate in such election
permanent invitee to EC in the past. processes. However, AEPC has had
women representatives as invitees
‘I am here to change, not follow… Time has come to run the show professionally…’, Dr. Rubana Huq said while speaking to
Apparel Online Bangladesh (AOB) exclusively. This sums up her character and vision for the industry! [Detailed interview is
published in AOB’s May edition and is also available on www.apparelresources.com]
36 Apparel Online India | MAY 1-15, 2019 | www.apparelresources.com