In a major shift of working in textile department, the central government has planned to shift the office of the textile commissioner to New Delhi from Mumbai. The ministry of textiles has informed the commissioner regarding this big decision.
IAS officer Jayashree Sivakumar, under secretary in the ministry has written a letter to the textile commissioner and 1994 batch IAS officer Roop Rashi informing about this big decision.
“I am directed to inform you that it has been decided with the approval of the competent authority to restructure the office of textile commissioner and textile committee (TC) in order to enhance effectiveness and achieve optimal use of resources. This restructuring exercise would involve shifting textile commissioner and few key officials to the Ministry of Textiles (MoT) to strengthen the technical arm of the ministry, deployment/deputation of officers/staff from head office and field office to TC head office and field offices,” the letter read.
As a first step to initiate the process of restructuring/merger, it has been decided that the textile commissioner will be moved to New Delhi along with a few key personnel, including one joint textile commissioner, two deputy secretary level (director rank) and two deputy director level officers. The textile commissioner will be seated in the ministry and other officials in the regional office at NOIDA, according to the letter. The officials have been told to shift by April 5, 2023.
ABOUT TEXTILE COMMISSIONER
The office of the textile commissioner was established in 1943 during World War II for arranging the supply of cloth to the defence forces as well as civilian population. After the end of the war, the textile commissioner was given the regulatory function of administering the prices, distribution and control of certain varieties of cloth meant for civilian consumption in the post-war conditions of scarcity. However, after Independence the office assumed a developmental role and contributed towards modernisation and growth of all segments of the textiles and clothing industry.
The textile commissioner acts as the principal technical advisor to the Ministry of Textiles and carries out techno-economic surveys and advises the government on the general economic health of the textiles industry through its eight regional offices at Amritsar, Noida, Indore, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Coimbatore, Navi Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
The post of the textile commissioner used to be occupied by senior IAS officers. Since the post was in Mumbai, many IAS officers of Maharashtra cadre used to apply for it so that their central deputation period was also completed.
