(a) whether the Government is taking any steps to assist small textile units or weavers in West Bengal;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to encourage textile industry in the country?
(a) whether the Government is taking any steps to assist small textile units or weavers in West Bengal;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to encourage textile industry in the country?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES
(SHRI AJAY TAMTA)
(a) & (b): The weavers in West Bengal are working in handloom sector which comes under the unorganized/small scale sector. In handloom sector, under National Handloom Development Programme (Block Level Cluster Programme), a component of National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP), financial assistance is provided for technology up-gradation, skill-up-gradation, construction of workshed etc. for welfare of weavers.
The details of funds released for Block Level Cluster under National Handloom Development Programme is given as under:-
Sl. No. Name of State Year of sanction Block Level Cluster No. of Block Level Cluster Funds released (Rs. in lakh) No. of beneficiaries
1 West Bengal 2015-16 1 39.56 505
2016-17 3 67.41 2110
(c): In order to encourage textile sector the government has launched various Policy initiatives and schemes such as in the handloom sector, National Handloom Development Programme is being implemented for development of the sector and welfare of handlooms weavers is being promoted through Handloom Weavers Comprehensive Scheme, Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme, Health Insurance Scheme, Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana and Yarn Supply Scheme etc. These schemes ensure regular supply of basic raw material to the handloom sector and help utilize the employment potential of the sector.
Under the National Handicrafts Development programme (NHDP), raw material depots are setup to facilitate easy availability of quality and graded raw material to artisans/ entrepreneurs/ units at a reasonable rates. Other schemes such as Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojna, Design & Technology Upgradation, Marketing and Support Services, Research and Development, Human Resource Development, Welfare Schemes and assistance for creation of Capital Infrastructure are implemented for the overall development of Handicraft Sector and welfare of Handicrafts Artisans.
The government announced special package for Garments and Made-ups with the components of Enhanced Duty Drawback Coverage/ Rebate of State Levies (ROSL) on Export of Garments/ Made-ups; Additional incentives under Amended Technology Upgradation Scheme(ATUFS)/ Scheme for production and Employment Linked Support for Garmenting Units(SPELSGU); Employee Provident Fund Scheme Reform/ Pradhan Mantri Paridhan Rojgar Protsahan Yojana (PMPRPY); Reforms in Labour Laws for increasing overtime caps and introduction of Fixed Term Employment; Enhancing scope of section 80JJAA of Income Tax Act.
The government has introduced Amended Technology Upgradation Scheme (ATUFS) for technology upgradation of the textile industry with one time capital subsidy for eligible machinery. In order to provide infrastructure support, the government has initiated the Scheme for Integrated Textile Parks (SITP) and sanctioned 66 textile parks on pan India basis as of now. Scheme for Integrated Textile Processing Development (IPDS) has been formulated for Textile Processing Sector, Technology Mission on Technical Textiles (TMTT) has been launched with additional components like Scheme for Promoting Usage of Agrotextiles in India and setting up of Focus Incubation Centers (FIC), for strengthening the decentralized powerloom segment, schemes like In-situ Up-gradation of Plain Powerloom; Group Workshed Scheme (GWS) and Modified Comprehensive Powerloom Cluster Development Scheme (MCPCDS) have been launched.
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