'Improve accuracy in data collection'

There was need to improve the accuracy of data collected on domestic demand patterns of textiles, said, Secretary of Textiles Committee, Ministry of Textiles, P Nayak, in Mysore, on Monday.

He said that data collection in the past had lacked consistency, and had to be rectified, as it was affecting policy decisions.

He was speaking at a two-day workshop cum training programme for field level executives and liaison officers of the ministry on latest data collection techniques and data processing.

He said that figures regarding textiles, appearing in various reports were inconsistent, which was owing to flaws in data collection methods.

Textile economic research base in India must be strengthened by imparting training on data collection, he said.

J D Burman, Joint Director, Bangalore region, speaking on the National Household Survey: Market for Textiles and Clothing, being taken up by the Ministry said that the study aimed to estimate the demand pattern of textiles in household sector of the country.

 “The results of the study will help policy makers in devising the necessary policies of the sector. It will also help in devising suitable business strategies for textile trade and industry,” he added.

Present trends

In order to make the report more user-friendly, the Textiles Committee would restructure the report by incorporating present trends of consumption and mechanising data processing using software technology.

He rued that most of the data available with the Ministry was obsolete, and not in tune with changing times.

In addition to this, the Market Research Wing of the Committee would extend hand-holding support for Intellectual Property Rights protection, through Geographical Indications Act and Trade Mark Act.

The two day programme will also deliberate on research on domestic demand and preference pattern of the household sector of the country with respect to textiles.

The programme is the first in a series to be organised across the country.

About 80 participants from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are participating.