Question : Technical Textile Imports

(a) whether the Government has devised any policy/ scheme to boost technical textile sector in the country, State/UT-wise including Jharkhand and Maharashtra along with the details of various achievements made in the Sector under such policy/scheme;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the present quantum of imports of technical textile;

(c) whether the Government has formulated any schemes/programmes to promote the domestic manufacturing of PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) kits and masks in the country, especially for Self Help Groups (SHGs), if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(d) the details of steps taken/being taken by the Government to promote domestic manufacture of technical and medical apparel/textile including rainwear, sportswear, PPE Kits and fire resistant garments in order to cut down technical textile imports?

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MINISTER OF TEXTILES
(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. With a view to boost technical textiles sector in the country, the Government has approved the proposal for creation of National Technical Textiles Mission(NTTM) for a period of 4 years (2020-21 to 2023-24) with an outlay of Rs.1480 crores. The NTTM will (i) focus on research and innovation and indigenous development of specialty fibres from Carbon, Nylon-66, Glass, Aramid and other high technology polymers; increase application of geo-textiles, agro-textiles, medical textiles, protective textiles and other segments of technical textiles in various application areas (ii) promote awareness amongst users, bring in large scale investments, and encourage high-end technical textiles products (iii) enhance India’s exports of technical textiles by 2024 through focused attention on highest traded products (iv) create a robust human resources in the country, both through specialized higher education and skill development of technical manpower of the country.
Besides, in order to boost a rapid growth of the technical textile segment in the country, the government has also taken following major initiatives:-
(i) 207 technical textiles items have been brought under separate head in the Harmonised System of Nomenclature (HSN) code under the Foreign Trade Policy.
(ii) With a view to derive the benefits of technical textiles in various fields of applications, currently Ninety Two (92) application areas have been identified for mandatory use across Ten Central Ministries/Departments. So far, mandatory use notifications have been issued for 68 (sixty eight) applications.
(iii) Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has developed standards for 377 technical textiles products.
(iv) On request from the Industry, Ministry of Textiles has included Six (6) additional courses for technical textiles in its Skill Development Programme (called Samarth).
(v) IIT Delhi is conducting fresh baseline survey on technical textiles sector.
(vi) The Ministry has issued Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order dated 23.10.2019, prescribing Minimum Local Purchase Content for Technical textiles items in 10 segments for government procurement.
The schemes of the Government shall be implemented on pan India basis including the states of Jharkhand and Maharashtra. The average import of technical textiles items in the country over past three years is nearly Rs.13950 crores per year.

(c) & (d): From zero manufacturers in March 2020, 1100 indigenous manufacturers of PPE kits have been developed by the Government till date, most of them being from MSME sector. The capacity and production of PPE Coveralls for COVID-19 touched a peak of 5 lakh per day in mid May 2020. As on 13.9.2020, a total of 1.42 crore PPE kits have been supplied to M/s HLL Lifecare Ltd. – the procurement arm of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) for use of health professionals in government hospitals. Similarly, domestic manufacturers of N-95 masks were encouraged during lockdown period and as a result, as on 13.9.2020, a total of 2.46 crores N-95 masks have been supplied to M/s HLL Lifecare Ltd. Apart from this, initiatives taken under NTTM are intended to boost the entire domestic technical textiles industry.
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