A number of initiatives have been taken by the Government in order to ensure holistic development of the entire powerloom sector of the country including that of Bhiwandi, Ichalkaranji and Malegaon:- 

(i) Comprehensive Powerloom Cluster Development Scheme(CPCDS): With an aim at holistic improvement of existing (brownfield) powerloom clusters, Government extends financial support of a maximum of Rs. 50 crores for each approved Powerloom Mega Cluster project. The scheme has now been subsumed under Textile Cluster Development Scheme (TCDS) and support is extended for completing ongoing projects for meeting committed liabilities only. Under CPCDS, IchalkaranjiPowerloom Mega Cluster was sanctioned in 2012. Rs. 44.85 crore has been released to Ichalkaranji Powerloom Mega Cluster as financial support by Government of India.

(ii) PowerTex India Scheme: In order to enhance the capacities and competitiveness of decentralized powerloom sector, PowerTex India Scheme was launched on a Pan India basis having, an outlay of Rs. 487 crores for the period 2017-20, which was extended upto 2021. The scheme has now been subsumed under Textile Cluster Development Scheme (TCDS) and support is extended for completing ongoing projects for meeting committed liabilities only. Under the scheme Rs. 11.58 crore, 58.08 crore &Rs. 12.28 crore have been released to powerloom units in Ichalkaranji cluster, Bhiwandi cluster and Malegaon cluster respectively.

(iii) Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS):  Under the scheme, credit linked Capital Investment Subsidy (CIS) is provided to units located across the country for purchase of benchmarked machinery in different segment of Textile Sectors (excluding spinning) across the value chain and across fibers including Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and small textile manufacturing units. The validity of the scheme was till 31.03.2022. Currently only committed liabilities are provided under this scheme. A financial support of Rs. 262.04 crore to 1234 units has been provided in Ichalkaranji, Bhiwandi and Malegaon under the scheme.

(iv) Textile Cluster Development Scheme (TCDS) :- Under this scheme Grant-in-aid is provided to Integrated Textile and Apparel Development Centres (ITADCs - Erstwhile Powerloom Service Centres) of Textile Research Associations (TRAs) and State Government. There are two ITADCs in Bhiwandi cluster and one each in Ichalkaranji and Malegaon cluster. These ITADCs provide testing, training, technical consultancy and troubleshooting services to the powerloom industry in these clusters. In the last three years training has been provided to 1433 weavers in these clusters.

(v) In addition, the Government of Maharashtra is implementing the Maharashtra Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (MAHA_TUFS) which seeks to facilitate Powerlooms in Maharashtra including in Bhiwandi, Ichalkaranji and Malegaon in augmenting investments, productivity, quality, employment and exports through various incentives to the eligible units for technology upgradation as per specified guidelines.

This information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES SHRI PABITRA MARGHERITA in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

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MAM/VN

(Rajya Sabha US Q960)

 

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