NEW INITITATIVES TO MODERNISE POWERLOOM SECTOR
In view of the removal of Quantitative Restrictions
(Q.R.) from 1st January 2005, there is a need to work in a coordinated
and focussed manner to build a modern powerloom industry which
will be able to face competition from domestic and export markets.
Expressing the concern over the possible adverse impact of surge
in imports in the wake of removal of Q.R., the Minister of Textiles,
Mr Kashiram Rana said that Government is making efforts to make
yarn available at reasonable price to the powerloom weavers at
Bhiwandi, Ichalkaranji, Solapur and Malegaon through joint efforts
of Maharashtra State Powerloom Corporation and N.T.C. North and
South Maharashtra. While addressing the 3rd meeting of the reconstituted
All-India Powerloom Board in New Delhi today, the Minister disclosed
that a new scheme is being envisaged for making available indigenous
semi auto, auto-shuttleless looms and allied machinery at a subsidized
rate to the powerloom weavers who want to modernise but cannot
avail bank finance. Besides, automatic and shuttleless looms have
been exempted from excise duty and the import duty on shuttleless
looms has been reduced. In order to boost export and formulate
innovative marketing strategies, weaving, processing and garment
industry have been identified as the thrust areas and that is
reason, he said, garment industry has been taken out of Small
Scale Industries reservation. A scheme for Integrated Apparel
Parks has been started with the Central Government support. Two
such Parks have been sanctioned - one in Surat, Gujarat and the
other in Troica City, UP. Five others are under active consideration.
In all sixteen proposals were received from the state governments,
he disclosed. Mr Kashiram Rana told the members that forty-four
Powerloom Service Centres are providing training, consultancy,
design development support, textile testing and information dissemination
in the country. Out of these, twenty one Powerloom Service Centres
are equipped with modernlooms, accessories and teaching aids at
the cost of Rs 16 crore. Fourteen laboratories of PSC's have been
upgraded at the cost of Rs 11 crore for the benefit of the weavers.
Moreover, for fostering value addition through new designs, motifs
and patterns, seventeen Computer Aided Design Centres in the various
textile centres have been sanctioned. Keeping in mind the welfare
of the powerloom weavers an insurance scheme is being revised
with greater financial share from Central Government. Mr Rana
expressed the dismay over non-utilisation of the funds provided
under Technology Upgradation Fund for textiles and Jute. Under
the Textile Package 2001-2002, a major programme for modernisation
of the powerloom sector by the induction of 50,000 shuttleless
looms and upgradation of 2.5 lac semi and automatic looms in the
decentralised powerloom sector was announced. But this sector,
did not take any significant advantage of the scheme despite a
number of relaxations like 5% rebate on interest reimbursement
under TUFs, an offer of direct Capital Credit linked subsidy,
exemption of 16% excise duty on automatic looms etc. But according
to him the problem appeared to be because of inadequate book keeping
by the weavers and the reluctance of the bankers to fund small
projects. Mr Kashiram Rana urged upon the members of the Powerloom
Board to come out with valuable suggestions for modernising the
powerloom sector.
