Samarth Scheme

The Ministry of Textile is implementing Samarth Scheme, a flagship Scheme for Capacity Building in the Textiles Sector (SCBTS). It aims to train 10 lakh persons between 2017-2020. Recently, it is in the news as due to the COVID-19 led nationwide lockdown, the scheme was halted in various states. The Samarth Scheme intends to provide skill development and placement oriented training across the entire textiles value chain, excluding spinning and weaving in the organised sector.

Hence, it is imperative to the IAS Exam candidates to learn the relevant facts about this scheme.

Objectives of the Samarth Scheme

1. It will provide National Skills Framework Qualification (NSFQ) compliant skilling programmes to over 10 lakh persons.
2. The skilling programmes offered under Samarth Scheme aim to incentivize and supplement the efforts of the Textile industry.
3. The scheme aims to create more jobs in the textile and related sectors that will cover the entire value chain of the textile but will exclude spinning and weaving.
4. Traditional sectors of handlooms, handicrafts, sericulture and jute will be upgraded through skilling and skill upgradation.
5. Through skill upgradation of lakhs of persons, it aims to induce self-employment capabilities among youth and others.
6. It aims to promote sustainable livelihood to all sections of society.

Salient Features of Samarth Scheme

1. Training of Trainers (ToT) – That will provide enhanced facilitation skills to the master trainers.
2. Aadhar Enabled Biometric Attendance System (AEBAS) – That will ensure the credibility of the trainers and the beneficiaries.
3. CCTV recording of training programmes – To avoid major conflicts in the functioning of the scheme, training institutes will be fixed with CCTVs.
4. Dedicated call centre with helpline number –
5. Mobile app-based Management Information System (MIS)
6. On-line monitoring of training processes

The central government has approved the scheme with a total outlay of Rs.1300 crores.

Brief Overview of Indian Textile Sector

1. Around 14 percent of industrial production comes from the textile industry.
2. Indian textile industry contributes around 4 percent in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
3. It contributes 17 percent to its export earnings.
4. Over 3.5 crores people are employed in the Indian textile industry — second largest after agriculture.

Government Initiatives to Promote Textile Industry

1. To boost start-ups and innovative ideas in the textile sector, the Indian government plans to establish a venture capital fund (Rs. 100 crores).
2. Another major initiative to promote the textile sector is allowance of 100 percent FDI through automatic route.
3. Integrated Processing Development Scheme (IPDS) was launched during the 12th Five Year Plan to create brownfield and greenfield projects with modern facilities to benefit the textile clusters.
4. Government launched the Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS) to boost investments in textile and related sectors in 1999.
5. Scheme for Integrated Textile Parks (SITP) was launched in 2005 to attract investments in the textile sector.
6. To boost the power loom sector, the government launched the PowerTex India Scheme in 2017.
7. To increase the productivity of the domestic silk, the Silk Samagra Scheme has been launched.
8. In 2015, the government launched Jute-I CARE for jute cultivators.

For more government schemes, check the linked article.

UPSC Preparation: