Rise for Impact – project promotes decent work for India’s cotton growing community
21 August 2024
New Delhi, INDIA: The International Labour Organization (ILO) and Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI), New Delhi have agreed to cooperate in the implementation of the project Promoting Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work among the cotton growing community with focus on small and marginal farmers and workers. The ILO project contributes to Strategic Priority 1 the ILO Decent Work Country Programme for India (DWCP 2023-27) which aligns with national priorities of generating decent, productive job opportunities, creating sustainable livelihoods, adequate social protection systems and an enabling environment for increasing women’s participation.
CITI is the only national association that covers the entire spectrum of the textile and clothing industry spanning across domestic and exporting unit, including regional and sectoral associations from farms to garments and even textile machinery linking directly and indirectly an industry that connects to millions of farmers, 105 million plus workforce, and 1.4 billion consumers.
Currently, CITI through its subsidiary Cotton Development and Research Association (CDRA) is operational in the states of Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh and is also an important extension partner in the pilot project on cotton, which is a joint effort with the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Textiles to enhance the cotton yield through various improved agronomics practices and technological interventions such as HDPS, closer spacing among others.
Co-terminus trainings/awareness on FPRW will be carried out as part of the collaboration in ILO project areas also leveraging opportunities facilitated through the Workers Information and Support Centre (WISC) envisaged as part of the ILO project. The cotton growing community will also benefit from the ILO’s knowledge products as the first five-day Training of Trainers (TOT) on FPRW was completed on 21 August 2024 engaging field functionaries from textile industry and CSOs active with cotton farmers promoting regenerative agriculture. Cascading trainings on FPRW for cotton farming community in the project focus districts being rolled out.