1. No more dirty linen; 2. Textile exporters get a breather; 3. Reduction in DEPB rates: Industry fears textile exports may nosedive; 4. Jute industry may soon meet fate of textile mills. With the imminent phase-out of the textile quotas in January, India is looming large on the radar of retail chains across the globe especially the US and Europe. The first to benefit will be the organized textile and garment segment in India, to be followed by smaller business houses. Apart from its impact on the Indian economy, in terms of greater forex inflows, a fall-out - perhaps more important in the long run - is the awakening of social consciousness in the sector. For, the purchasing power of a socially conscious global clientele is the driving force that helps ensure better working conditions. The 'Clean Clothes' campaign, a movement that began in Europe, has challenged bad working conditions in this sector. Cases against major garment companies like Adidas, Nike, Levi Strauss, have been presented before various tribunals in different European countries. The consumer movement has not spared companies in the US either. A case has been filed against Nike , in California, on the ground that bad working conditions in its off-shore factories were evidence of false advertising.
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