Importance of Cotton Textile Industry in India
The Cotton Textile Industry is not a basic industry like iron and steel industry but it forms the largest single industry in India. Every year the Cotton Textile Industry produces 30% – 35%` of the total industrial products in the country.
In a developing country like India, the Cotton Textile Industry is very important, for it has to meet the demand for clothes of the Indians and exports too. The Cotton Textile Industry contributes nearly 30% of the value of exports, and employs more than 55 million labors. Some parts of India, viz., western and southern region are largely dependent on this industry. Besides, many people are engaged in either cotton production, or the garment industry, many factories produce the machines required for the cotton textile industry etc. Thus the Cotton Textile Industry is very important to India’s economy, directly or indirectly.
The Cotton Textile Industry is a very important industry in India. The modern Cotton Textile Industry started in India in 1818 at Ghusuri near Kolkata but it closed down shortly due to shortage of raw materials. It really started in 1859 at Mumbai when a textile mill was set up producing cotton cloth. In 1905 the Swadeshi Movement caused foreign cotton textiles to be boycotted so the Indian Textile Industry developed. After Independence to Cotton Textile Industry improved more rapidly with Government co-operation.
