SHRI RANA STRESSES ON TECHNOLOGICAL UPGRADATION FOR TEXTILES SECTOR
The globalization of textile trade will have
a serious impact on powerloom sector and thus there is a need
for effective, concerted and time-bound efforts to upgrade the
technology, skills of the weavers, design infrastructure, credit
support and quality consciousness. The Union Minister for Textiles,
Shri Kashiram Rana expressed this view in the Third Meeting of
the Development Council for the Textile Industry, held here today.
The National Textile Policy-2000 advocates for
modernisation through, TUFS, modernisation of PSC, cluster approach
for optimum production and effective welfare scheme for safe environment
and health of workers. W.e.f. 1st January, 2002, an
option has been provided to SSI units under TUFS to avail of either
5% interest reimbursement or 12% Credit Linked Capital Subsidy.
He said that to give a boost to technological upgradation we are
contemplating to bring a capital subsidy scheme for powerloom
units.
The powerloom sector earns foreign exchange of
about Rs. 7,000 crore, from the exports of fabrics and made-ups,
from cotton, silk and wool segments. It is estimated that nearly
60% of the fabrics being sourced by the indigenous garments/apparel
sector for the manufacture and marketing of readymade garments
are from this sector.
Shri Rana said that the weaving sector is
one of the poorest technological links in the value-chain for
textiles. India is lagging behind the other competitors in exports
in this sector and therefore the need for installing a large number
shuttleless looms has become urgent. The Government, in order
to provide finance at low cost, has introduced the Technology
Upgradation Fund Scheme on 1st April, 1999. The scheme
provides 5% interest reimbursement during the entire loan period.
This 5% component would help to achieve the targets of modernisation.
He hoped that a time-bound approach to modernise it by investing
more money for upgradation of technology will ensure for it a
place it deserves in the international market.
