A Parliamentary panel has urged the textile ministry to accelerate formalities to set up the proposed seven mega textile parks within a definite time frame. As per Outlook India, the project is currently awaiting cabinet approval.

The government had announced the MITRA (Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel Parks) scheme in this year’s budget to attract an investment of Rs 10,000 crore and generate 150,000 jobs in the sector.

Expressing concern that during 2020-21, only Rs 24 crore could be disbursed as MUDRA loan to 4,278 sanctioned loans, the panel urged the ministry to take up the matter at appropriate levels so that appreciable disbursements are made under the scheme for the benefit of handloom weavers.

The Standing Committee on Labor also urged the textiles ministry to make the census process of handloom weavers more robust and foolproof to ensure genuine identification of weavers and actual dissemination of resources to them. It also urged the ministry to enhance cotton exports and reduce imports.

It also said the ministry should earmark a part of the Budget allocated under ATUFS (Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme) for research development on upgradation/modernization of the textile industry so that the import of high quality machinery can be decreased gradually.

Further, it urged the ministry to abolish anti-dumping duty, differential tariff rates, high labor and power costs, and improve logistic arrangements.