The Government of India has introduced a number of measures to boost the textile industry in the north Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, Minister of Textiles Anand Sharma has said.
The Minister said the Comprehensive Handloom Package announced by the Centre would benefit 193 cooperative societies, 5,578 looms and 13,458 weavers in Himachal Pradesh.
He informed that a Cluster Development Centre for silk rearing has been sanctioned for six blocks of Mandi and Hamirpur districts in the state. He added that these Centres will also undertake post-harvest activity, including imparting training for skill enhancement. He said the setting up of these Centres would benefit a minimum of 1,000 people in the state.
Further, rabbit rearing and Angoora wool development programmes are being encouraged through various schemes implemented by the Wool Development Board, he said.
He revealed that the capacity of the newly set up Wool Weaving and Designing Centre for skills training at Kullu is likely to be expected during the 12th Five Year Plan period.
He mentioned that the Centre is ready to set up five new Apparel Design and Training Centres for imparting skills in the garment sector, provided the state government or the Himachal textile and garment industry comes forward to support the initiative.
The Centre can bear up to 75 percent of the cost, if the initiative is taken to train 10,000 people, the Minister added.
Fibre2fashion News Desk - India