Six ongoing schemes to support handicraft sector: Minister

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SME Times News Bureau | 06 Sep, 2012
The Centre has been implementing six generic schemes for the promotion and development including export of handicraft sector, said Minister of State for Textiles, Panabaaka Lakshmi in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, on Wednesday.

The schemes mentioned by the minster are Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hastshilp VikasYojana, Design & Technology Upgradation Scheme, Marketing Support Services Scheme, Research & Development Scheme, Human Resource Development Scheme, and Handicraft Artisans Comprehensive Welfare Scheme.

Replying to another question, Lakshmi said that the Working Group on Textiles and Jute Industry for the 12th Five Year Plan, constituted by Ministry of Textiles has recommended continuation of TUFS with an allocation of Rs. 15886 crore for 12th Plan.

"The Scheme guidelines would be issued following approval of 12th Plan, in line with findings of CRISIL evaluation study which suggests higher TUFS allocations for weaving and processing sectors," she said.

Commenting on current trends in production of textiles, the minister said that cotton production has increased from 305 lac bales in 2009-10 to 339 lac bales in 2010-11 and an estimated 353 lac bales in 2011-12.

Cotton yarn production has varied from 3079 million Kg in 2009-10 to 3490 million Kg in 2010-11 and an estimated 3126 million kg in 2011-12. A decline was witnessed in cotton yarn production in 2011-12 due to stress levels of Textiles industry. The trend has been reversed in 2012-13.

"The production of cotton yarn declined in 2011-12 due to sudden crash in prices of cotton/cotton yarn leaving industry with high cost inventories," Lakshmi said.

Given the stress levels in textiles industry, Government has issued directions to Banks for restructuring of textiles industry loans on a case by case basis in accordance with the Reserve Bank of India's prudential guidelines on re-structuring of advances by bank, she added.

The debt restructuring package covers around 307 textiles mills in private sector and around 200 readymade garments (RMG) factories in SME sector. The debt restructuring exercise will help boost textiles industry’s growth in the country and provide re-employment to textile workers, the minister added.