The Industry Stakeholders Meeting was held on 12 February 2026 at Poppys Vista Hotel , Tirupur, under the DHAGA project. It is part of an Indo-German initiative supported by BMZ and implemented by Upfront and Swasti with UN Women and GIZ . The meeting focused on promoting gender-inclusive and worker-friendly practices in the textile sector.
The session also featured key contributions from Mr. Prabhakaran, Programme Specialist, Upfront, who delivered the Welcome Address; Ms. Shaonli Chakraborty, CEO, Upfront , who provided the introduction and context setting; and Ms. Piyali Sarkar Debnath, Program Manager, UN Women India , who shared the perspective and background of the overall initiative.
Mrs. Shrutika Sethu Madhavan,Chairperson, Women Empowerment Sub-Committee, TEA .She highlighted that women form 60–70% of Tirupur’s workforce but remain underrepresented in leadership roles. She emphasized women’s empowerment as a strategic growth priority aligned with India’s $10 trillion vision. Referring to the DHAGA framework, she stressed dignity, health, agency, growth, and access as pillars for inclusive workplaces. She urged industry leaders to adopt measurable actions to strengthen ESG performance and gender-inclusive supply chains.
Mrs. V. Surithi,Vice Chairperson, Women Empowerment Sub-Committee, TEA .She emphasized that women are the backbone of Tirupur’s textile industry and that their safety, health, and career growth are industry priorities. She described DAGGA as a roadmap for ethical and inclusive supply chains. She reiterated that women’s empowerment is systematic capacity building essential for long-term resilience. She called for collective action to make inclusivity and worker well-being core business standards.
Mr. V. Elangovan,Vice President, Tirupur Exporters’ Association (TEA) & Chairman,TSF. He highlighted the need to strengthen workforce capacity to leverage FTA opportunities and boost exports over the next three years. He stressed that a happy and stable workforce is critical in a labour-intensive textile sector. TEA is actively working on migrant worker housing and supportive policies. He underscored the importance of productivity, mental health, and inclusive growth through DHAGA initiatives.
Mrs. Sumita Roshan,Special Invitee, Tirupur Exporters’ Association (TEA) .She outlined TEA’s health-focused initiatives, including cancer screenings, eye check-ups, and workplace health camps. She appreciated UN Women’s role in promoting healthcare, safe workplaces, and GBVH awareness. She highlighted skill development under the SAMARTH scheme to enhance women’s leadership roles. She emphasized that investing in women’s health and development strengthens the industry and the nation.
Mr. Anand Muthusamy,Joint Secretary & Chairman – Branding and Sustainability, TEA .He stressed that women’s workforce well-being directly impacts productivity and sustainability. He announced TEA’s upcoming ESG project covering 100 factories with a five-year roadmap toward carbon neutrality by 2030. He highlighted workforce management, especially migrant women workers, as a key industry challenge. He reaffirmed TEA’s commitment to MSMEs, infrastructure development, and stronger ESG compliance standards.
The session also featured prominent industry leaders, including Mr. Alagesan Senniappan, Senior Vice President, Eastman Exports; Mr. Mugunthan Sukumaran, General Manager, Sharadha Terry Group; and Mr. Sivakumar, Group General Manager, Atlas Group of Companies, who shared their perspectives and industry insights during the discussion.
B. Sunitha Bai, State Lead, Upfront , presented an overview of the Textile & Cotton Project 2025– 26, while Ms. Uma Sundari, Technical Specialist, Upfront , delivered the Vote of Thanks.