(a) whether the cotton and handloom textiles are becoming fashionable and acceptable to the western markets;
(b) if so, the steps being taken by the Government to secure the Indian share in international market;
(c) whether the Government proposes to give incentives to cotton growers and handloom weavers to increase the production of said textiles; and
(d) if so, the details thereof alongwith the funds allocated for the purpose during the Eleventh Plan, separately?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TEXTILES
(SHRI E.V.K.S. ELANGOVAN)
(a): India is emerging as an important source for a wide range of home textile products, categorized as linens and domestic use textiles products, for markets around the globe.
(b): In order to secure the share of Indian handlooms textiles in international markets, the Government has launched the Marketing & Export Promotion Scheme, which facilitates the designated handlooms agencies to develop an exportable range of handlooms products and market them internationally. Apart from the above Scheme, the Government has also been facilitating promotion of exports from the country, including exports of handlooms through schemes like Market Development Assistance (MDA), the Market Access Initiative Scheme (MAI),the Duty Entitlement Passbook Scheme (DEPB), the Focus Product Scheme (FPS),the Focus Market Scheme (FMS) etc.
(c) & (d): The Technology Mission on Cotton (TMC) was launched by the Government in February 2000 with the objective of improving cotton production, productivity and the quality of indigenous cotton and a reduction in the cost of cotton cultivation. The Mission consists of four mini-missions, which focus on the development of improved varieties, the transfer of technology to farmers to ensure better returns, the improvement of marketing infrastructure and the modernization of ginning and processing factories. An amount of Rs.241.35 crore has been provided in the 11th Five Year Plan for mini mission III and IV for which the nodal Ministry is the Ministry of Textiles.
The Marketing & Export Promotion Scheme has been launched for the production of an exportable range of handloom products for domestic as well as international marketing. A sum of Rs. 230 crore has been allocated for the Scheme during the 11th Plan period.