New Delhi, June 24 (IANS) The government will spend Rs.1,100 crore (Rs.11 billion) annually till 2012 to provide subsidies and upgrade technology to the textile sector, Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran said here Wednesday.
The Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS), which was launched to improve competitiveness and overall long term viability of the industry, has been extended till March 31, 2012.

“The government will invest Rs.1,100 crore in TUFS,” Maran told reporters while releasing the ministry’s 100-day agenda.

Besides, the government will provide health insurance to 150,000 weavers and open two textile parks under the Scheme for Integrated Textile Parks (SITP).

Maran said: “There are indicators the market is slowly picking up (but) not very drastically.”

He said the textile sector witnessed a 0.96 percent increase in employment since last year.

Some salient features of the 100-day agenda are:

– Inauguration of two integrated textile parks under SITP

– Launch of programme to train 50,000 weavers

– Health insurance for 150,000 weavers

– Training of 100,000 artisans

– ID cards for 150,000 artisans

– Expansion of the Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme coverage to benefit the decentralised sector

– Constitution of working group for a National Fibre Policy

– Marketing of handcrafted products through the Delhi Metro network

– To popularise jute shopping bags and made-ups in metros

– E-marketing of handlooms and handicrafts

– Seven modernised National Textile Corporation (NTC) mills to be made operational.