MINISTER OF TEXTILES (SHRI DAYANIDHI MARAN)
(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 209
FOR 11.03.2010
(a): As on 31.12.2009, total number of powerlooms registered in the country were 22, 56,320
with break-up as under:
Sl.No. Types of Looms Decentralised Powerloom Sector Organised Mill Sector
1. Plain Looms 19,05,713 37,494
2. Semi-Automatic Looms 1,72,238 190
3. Automatic Looms 23,195 14,476
4. Shuttleless Looms (including Rapier Looms) 84,365 18,489
5. Tape Narrow Width 160 TOTAL 21,85,511 70,809
(b) & (c): Yes, Madam. There is sufficient quantity of cotton available freely in the
open market, to meet the requirement of textile industry. The Government has estimated total
supply of 373.50 lakh bales against the total demand of 305 lakh bales during the cotton
season 2009-10. In case of power, being the State subject, the Government of India has
written to all the State Governments to ensure uninterrupted power supply to powerloom units
in their respective States.
(d) & (e): The programmes / schemes have been reviewed by the Government from time to
time for development of powerloom industry. The Group Workshed Scheme (GWSS) was modified
during year 2007 – 08 and subsidy for construction of workshed was increased from Rs.80/- per
sq. ft. to Rs.120/- per sq. ft. The Group Insurance Scheme (GIS) was launched with effect from
1st July 2003 and was modified on 1.1.2008. Before modification, the coverage of the benefits
under the Scheme was Rs.30,000/- for natural death, Rs.75,000/- for accidental death, Rs.
75,000/- for total permanent disability and Rs.37,500/- for partial permanent disability.
The benefits have now been modified to the extent of Rs.60,000/- for natural death, Rs.
1,50,000/- for accidental death, Rs.1,50,000/- for total permanent disability and Rs.75,000/-
for partial permanent disability. As per the modified Scheme, the total premium is Rs.330/-,
out of which, Rs.150/- is to be borne by the Government of India and Rs.100/- is being paid
by LIC from the social security fund of Government of India. Only a premium of Rs.80/- is
to be paid by powerloom weavers for getting benefits under the said scheme.
With a view to upgrade technology of the decentralised powerloom sector, the Government
announced 20% Credit linked Capital Subsidy (CLCS) under Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme(TUFS) on 16.11.2003. Under this scheme, a maximum subsidy of Rs.12.00 lakh per beneficiary
was provided on capital investment up to Rs.60.00 lakh on machinery. The impact of TUFS on
textile industry was evaluated and the capital ceiling on investment on machinery was increased
from Rs.60.00 lakh to Rs.1.00 crore and the ceiling of subsidy per beneficiary was increased
from Rs.12.00 lakh to Rs.20.00 lakh with effect from 13.01.2005. In a further review, the
capital ceiling on investment on machinery under the scheme was increased from Rs.1.00 crore
to Rs.2.00 crore and the Scheme was renamed as 20% Margin Money Subsidy (MMS) with effect
from 1.4.2007.
