The Federation of Hosiery Manufacturers Association of India hosted a grand event in Kolkata to highlight its interesting journey of 50 years and topped it with a scintillating cultural programme
To celebrate its Golden Jubilee, the Federation of Hosiery Manufacturers Association of India (FOHMA) organised an event on November 12, 2022 at Kolkata. Although FOHMA started off as a small entity in 1972, it has come a long way to evolve into an apex body of national importance which is duly recognised by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. The celebrations included an industry-focused conference with eminent speakers on board, an exhibition of products and a cultural programme. The event was presided over by K B Agarwala, President, FOHMA along with other managing committee members.
Minister of State for Textiles and Railways Darshana Vikram Jardosh and Ministry of Textiles’ Textile Commissioner Roop Rashi were the chief guests on this occasion. To mark the completion of a journey of 50 years, FOHMA released a unique ‘Book of Brands’. The publication was launched during the inaugural session of the Golden Jubilee programme. It is an initiative by FOHMA that aims to highlight the accomplishments of India’s hosiery industry by providing valuable information about the products and services of various brands in India. The activities of FOHMA were highlighted during the event in a presentation by Treasurer Sharad Kumar Bhatter.
FOHMA is represented by five zones, namely, north, south, east, west and central and these are represented by a vice president, a joint secretary and other committee members. The north and central zones were represented at the event by Vice President (North) Vinod Gupta and Vice President (Central) Raj Kumar Jain. FOHMA’s activities are spearheaded through its registered office located in Kolkata. Addressing the audience, President K B Agarwala said, “It is with great pleasure that we are celebrating the Golden Jubilee of FOHMA. And I am proud to say that over the years FOHMA’s activities have become multi-dimensional, focusing on every key aspect of the Indian hosiery industry.”
FOHMA works closely with central and state governments to raise issues of concern and provide feedback aiming at the improvement of the textile industry. Agarwala presented a list of issues that he requested Minister of State for Textiles and Railways Darshana Vikram Jardosh to take up for consideration. These include:
• Benefits under the TUFS scheme for all textile units that have not yet been included and continuation of the TUFS scheme with immediate effect.
• Develop a mechanism to bring stability and help small textile players handle volatility while reducing their losses on procurement of yarn.
• Exemption of the hosiery and textile industry from filing ITC 04 returns with respect to job work.
“We are confident that the Ministry of Textiles will give due consideration to all these issues and help our industry by encouraging the younger generation to come forward and make the Indian textile industry a stronger global player in the coming years. FOHMA makes efforts to undertake several initiatives aimed at augmenting the growth of the hosiery industry. As a strategic partner FOHMA supports other exhibitions and programmes that are organised by its constituent member associations. The winds of change have brought in countless opportunities and possibilities of growth. It is therefore imperative to look ahead and embark on a new journey. For those wishing to reinvent themselves, it will be a chance to reach greater levels of excellence in the days ahead,” Agarwala further stated.