The unjust tariffs recently imposed by the USA are likely to inflict serious damage on India’s garment industry. Thousands of workers, especially women, face the prospect of losing their livelihoods. While efforts to find alternative export markets must certainly continue, it is equally important to think in new directions. One such option could be a large-scale program of supplying garments to the poorest sections of society.
There is no doubt that large numbers of families in India still lack adequate clothing for different seasons. The bustling trade in second-hand clothes testifies to this reality. Having personally participated in efforts to provide new as well as second-hand garments in remote villages, I can confirm how deeply they were needed and appreciated. If these shortages exist in normal times, the need becomes even more desperate in areas hit by floods, droughts, or other disasters. After the North Bihar floods, I recall seeing entire families shivering through the bitter cold, unable to find either shelter or adequate clothing.
Such experiences have also revealed some important lessons. The first is the need to match clothing to local requirements. Sweaters for children are universally useful, but for women in particular, local dress preferences and cultural needs must be respected. The second is the manner in which such help is provided. Dignity of recipients must always remain central to any such program.
A practical approach could involve government distribution through existing networks such as anganwadis. To make supply more relevant, each district could be linked to a nearby garment-manufacturing unit. District-level teams with fair representation of women and weaker sections could determine local needs and communicate them to the unit. These units, in turn, could supply clothes to their designated districts during the crisis period triggered by the tariffs.
Beyond the immediate crisis, the initiative could evolve into a more decentralized model. Garment-making work can gradually be assigned to self-help groups of women, carried out in labor-intensive ways to spread livelihood benefits. Larger manufacturers, if interested, could play a role in training, but the real gains in terms of income and empowerment should accrue to women’s groups.
This approach would not only protect livelihoods in the face of tariff shocks but also help address the chronic clothing shortages of the poorest citizens. It is a rare opportunity to turn a crisis into an experiment in equity, resilience, and dignity.
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The writer is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Man over Machine, A Day in 2071, Planet in Peril and Protecting Earth for Children
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