Textiles Secretary Leads ESG Meet, Calls For Cluster-Led Sustainability
The Ministry of Textiles convened the fourth meeting of its ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) Task Force on June 3rd in New Delhi. The meeting was chaired by Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Neelam Shami Rao and brought together key stakeholders from across the textile value chain.
Senior officials present included Rohit Kansal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Dr. M. Beena, Textile Commissioner, Padmini Singla, Joint Secretary (Fibre), Renu Lata, Economic Advisor, Ministry of Commerce & Industry and Ashok Kumar, Deputy Director General, Bureau of Energy Efficiency. The meeting also saw participation from industry associations, leading textile brands, multilateral agencies, and representatives from relevant ministries.
In her keynote address, Secretary Rao highlighted that sustainability is not an abstract concept but a visible and evolving reality in Indian textile clusters such as Tiruppur, Surat, and Panipat. These clusters have pioneered initiatives like wastewater recycling, renewable energy adoption, and efficient textile waste management.
“While the industry has made commendable strides, it is time to scale these efforts across the country through a collaborative and inclusive approach,” she said. Rao stressed that sustainability is no longer a choice but a necessary imperative for the future of India’s textile industry.
Rohit Kansal, Additional Secretary, emphasized that sustainability is rooted in India’s traditions and must now become a core strength of the modern textile sector. He underlined the need to shift from treating sustainability as a compliance obligation to viewing it as a competitive advantage on the global stage.
“We must embed sustainability at every level from design to production and ensure that it empowers both the environment and the people involved in the textile value chain,” Kansal noted. He reiterated the Prime Minister’s call to make India a global hub for “Fashion for Environment and Empowerment.”
The Ministry presented a draft Roadmap 2047 for a sustainable, circular, and resource-efficient textile industry. The document outlines the strategic vision to be achieved by India’s centenary of independence and focuses on:
- Raising awareness and capacity across the value chain, from MSMEs to large enterprises and consumers
- Boosting research, innovation, and technology development
- Promoting a unified and harmonized certification and sustainability standard system
- Simplifying regulatory compliance to encourage wider industry participation
- Aligning India’s sustainability frameworks with evolving global ESG norms and green finance expectations
Participants also discussed ways to foster voluntary sustainability practices while creating an enabling regulatory environment that supports responsible consumption and circularity.
The meeting concluded with a strong and collective commitment from all stakeholders to contribute actively to refining the roadmap. Representatives from the industry expressed appreciation for the Ministry’s consultative and pragmatic approach in addressing the sector’s sustainability challenges.
The ESG Task Force is expected to play a crucial role in facilitating India’s transition to a greener, more resilient textile industry aligned with national and international sustainability goals.
