Indian Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani has assured to address the issues being faced by the powerloom sector of the country. She expressed her inability to announce what she is having in store for the powerloom sector, known for providing livelihood to millions of rural people across the country for centuries, as currently elections are taking place in a few states.
While responding to a question raised in a session at Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Indian Parliament, the Textiles Minister said that the matter has been discussed with industry stakeholders, but Model Code of Conduct in force is refraining her from making any announcement on it.
It may be mentioned here that the Government has already introduced multiple schemes to accelerate the development of the powerloom sector which include In-Situ Upgradation Scheme for plain powerlooms, ‘Group Work-Shed Scheme’ to help in the construction of work-sheds, ‘Group Insurance Scheme’ for social security, Integrated Skill Development Scheme (ISDS) for skill upgradation, and Integrated Scheme for Powerloom Sector Development (ISPSD) for extending support in the form of buyer-seller meet, yarn banks and setting up of common facility centres.
