(a) whether the Government has any proposal to set up a National Textiles Research Council;
(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(c) the measures taken by the Government to provide eco-friendly environment to textile industry to reduce carbon footprint?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TEXTILES (SMT. PANABAAKA LAKSHMI)
(a): There is no proposal for setting up of a National Textiles Research council.
(b) & (c): Research & Development (R&D) policy provides financial support for industrial as well as generic research projects mainly to the Textile Research Associations (TRAs). The Focus areas for research include product development, cost reduction in the entire manufacturing chain including in utilities conservation, eco-friendly technologies, development of technical textiles including test methods and test equipments, application of information technology, application of biotechnology, R&D in knitting and garment technology, application of nanotechnology and plasma science etc. These TRAs are supported through plan and non-plan allocation. In addition, Government has set up a high level committee under the Chairmanship of Secretary (Textiles) to address techno-economic solutions to the environmental issues of Tirupur Textiles Industry.