Union Minister of Home Affairs Shri Amit Shah today announced a slew of developmental projects for the overall development of Delhi and welfare of its people. Speaking on the occasion of foundation Stone laying ceremony of Integrated Development of East Delhi Hub as Chief Guest in New Delhi, he said, creation of riverfronts on both banks of Yamuna and its beautification, a dedicated cycle track in Delhi to promote green transportation and reduce road accidents, development of JJ clusters are some of the works would be taken on Priority basis.

Shri Shah said that 116 kilometers of new Metro lines out of which work on 70 kilometers route already started. Moreover, 18 projects worth 802 crore rupees had been completed under the AMRUT scheme in the city. He also added that Rapid Transport Rail between Delhi and Meerut, Panipat and Alwar was being developed by the Union Government on a fast track basis.

 

Speaking about the Integrated Development of East Delhi Hub, Shri Shah said that 1400 crore rupees and 30 hectares of land have been dedicated for this scheme, and assured that the scheme would be completed well in time. He noted that this would be a mixed use scheme, with 70% land earmarked for residential purposes, 20% for commercial purposes and 10% land for public facilities. He said that the scheme would include housing for poor as well as stations for pink and violet Metro lines. He added that the housing would include 4526 units for middle class and 288 for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). Shri Shah also promised that 30% area would be marked as green open public space, which would help mitigate pollution. He further noted that public facilities in the hub would include a Harit Bhawan, a cultural centre, a skywalk and basement parking facilities, among other things. Shri Shah remarked that a new paradigm of Development for urban areas like Delhi has been established by Shri Puri under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

 

Shri Shah said that the Union Government’s decision to regularize 1731 unauthorized colonies and conferring ownership rights at a nominal cost has ensured a dignified life for 40 lakh poor people living in these colonies. He informed that 13 laws that were a hindrance to this decision were bypassed with a single cabinet decision by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

Shri Shah said that the Union Government had ensured justice for the victims of anti Sikh riots by forming an SIT and punishing the culprits. He also said that the opening up of Kartarpur corridor was a major step by the Union Government for Sikh Pilgrims on the 550^th anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev ji.

Shri Shah also congratulated Shri Puri for successfully executing Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision for Delhi’s development. Shri Shah added that a new work culture of speed and efficiency is now the norm in the Modi Government. He also said that in a departure from earlier practice, this Government is more efficient and tends to complete projects within time limited, and thus the Government that lays down the foundation stone of a project is the same one that inaugurates it.

Shri Shah alleged that 80 percent of welfare schemes announced by Delhi Government remain unfulfilled and major among them are like providing jobs to 8 lakh youths and clean drinking water to every household. He also mentioned that Delhi has the worst quality of drinking water in the country. He added that Delhi Government believes in taking credit of developmental works of the Central Government through advertisements and asked as to why Central schemes for the poor like Ayushman Bharat, Pradhan Mantri Aawas Yojana were not implemented and always acted like a speed breaker in execution of projects.

Also present on the occasion were the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Shri Anil Baijal and Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs and Civil Aviation and Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Shri Hardeep Singh Puri.

 

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“The right kind of diet will help to reduce the disease burden in the country”. This was stated by Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare while inaugurating the second edition of the ‘Eat Right Mela’ at Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium, here today. He stressed upon the importance of having a Jan Andolan, a peoples’ movement, encouraging people to have healthier diets which will help in reduction of the disease burden in the country.

Dr. Harsh Vardhan stated that the Eat Right Mela of FSSAI is a commendable effort and outreach activity for citizens to nudge them towards eating right. “Let the ‘Eat Right Melas’ be part of public gatherings like local melas, community programs etc., so that the citizens would learn about health and nutrition benefits of different types of food, dietary advice by experts, engage in dialogues and conversations with food visionaries and experts, relish the delicious street food, live demonstration of food recipes and have fun and entertainment.

Dr. Harsh Vardhan also highlighted that “India, on one side, is suffering from under-nourishment resulting in infirmities such as wasting and stunting and on the other side, there is another critical area of concern to be addressed i.e. obesity, which is apparently the result of excessive consumption of junk food, wrong choices of food, overeating and lack of exercise. At the same time, the rise of diet related diseases suggests that people are eating less healthy food than they were eating a decade ago. In this context, the movement of ‘Eat Right India’ started by FSSAI is a timely initiative”.

The Union Minister launched ‘The PURPLE Book’ a handbook on diets for diseases. The book provides general guidelines for hospitals on suitable diets for common medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, cancer, gut disorders and so on in a simple format and has been developed and vetted by experts in the field of food and nutrition. This book is available for free download on http://www.fssai.gov.in.

At the event Dr Harsh Vardhan also launched NetSCoFAN (Network for Scientific Co-operation for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition), a network of research & academic institutions working in the area of food & nutrition along with the NetSCoFAN directory, covering detailed information of various heads/Directors and lead scientists of lead and associated partnering institutions. The NetSCoFAN would comprise of eight groups of institutions working in different areas viz. biological, chemical, nutrition & labelling, food of animal origin, food of plant origin, water & beverages, food testing, and safer & sustainable packaging. FSSAI has identified eight Nodal Institutions who would develop a ‘Ready Reckoner’ that will have inventory of all research work, experts and institutions and would carry out and facilitate research, survey and related activities. It would identify research gaps in respective areas and collect, collate and develop database on food safety issues for risk assessment activities. “The need for identify research gaps in respective areas and collect, collate and develop database on food safety issues for risk assessment activities, will be addressed by NetSCoFAN (Network for Scientific Co-operation for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition)”, Dr Harsh Vardhansaid.

Dr Harsh Vardhan emphasised the importance of ‘Save Food Share Food’. “Let’s develop the habit of not wasting food, and sharing food with those who are needy”, he said.  At the event, M/s Elan Professional Private Limited (ElanPro) through their CSR program declared to support Indian Food Sharing Alliance (IFSA) members to ensure the food collected is held at optimum temperature, which will help to reduce travel and distribution time under the ‘Save Food Share Food’ initiative of FSSAI. Presently, 84 food recovery agencies are associated with  IFSA network under FSSAI.

Dr. Harsh Vardhan also handed over 3 mobile food testing vans (CNG enabled) to Shri. D N Singh, the Commissioner of Food Safety, Government of NCT, Delhi during the inaugural ceremony.

Smt. Rita Teaotia, Chairperson FSSAI;Ms. Preeti Sudan, Secretary, Health & Family Welfare; Dr Shekhar C. Mande, Director General, CSIR; Sh. Pawan Agarwal, CEO, FSSAI along with officials of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, FSSAI, corporate partners, representatives from the food industry and NGOs were also present during the inauguration ceremony.

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MV/IA

The Anti-Evasion wing of CGST Delhi South Commissionerate has discovered here today yet another case of fake invoicing and GST fraud alongside a new modus operandi of defrauding the exchequer by exploiting the facility of refunds given for inverted duty structure. Over 120 entities who are involved in the transactions have come to light so far, involving fake invoicing of Rs. 1,600 crores and tax evasion of Rs 241 crores.

The investigations have unearthed a well organised racket of creating bogus firms, issuing fake invoices and bogus e-way bills to generate and encash tax credits.

The main culprit was arrested today as per the provisions of Section 69 of the CGST Act, 2017 and produced before judicial magistrate today itself and remanded to 10 days of judicial custody. The racketeer had created several firms on the basis of unauthorised access to identity documents of various persons.

The new modus operandi was uncovered by a team of investigators, who worked unceasingly over many weeks to uncover the maze of companies created across India. Incriminating electronic evidences have been recovered from the premises of the accused.

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The Anti-Evasion wing of CGST Delhi South Commissionerate has discovered here today yet another case of fake invoicing and GST fraud alongside a new modus operandi of defrauding the exchequer by exploiting the facility of refunds given for inverted duty structure. Over 120 entities who are involved in the transactions have come to light so far, involving fake invoicing of Rs. 1,600 crores and tax evasion of Rs 241 crores.

The investigations have unearthed a well organised racket of creating bogus firms, issuing fake invoices and bogus e-way bills to generate and encash tax credits.

The main culprit was arrested today as per the provisions of Section 69 of the CGST Act, 2017 and produced before judicial magistrate today itself and remanded to 10 days of judicial custody. The racketeer had created several firms on the basis of unauthorised access to identity documents of various persons.

The new modus operandi was uncovered by a team of investigators, who worked unceasingly over many weeks to uncover the maze of companies created across India. Incriminating electronic evidences have been recovered from the premises of the accused.

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Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh called upon Cantonment Boards to be gentle to the poor living within their premises saying they should not fear officials instead feel protected by them. He was addressing a gathering after giving away Raksha Mantri’s Awards for Excellence 2019 in Delhi Cantonment here today.

Raksha Mantri also reiterated the Government’s commitment to provide high quality education and low-cost health to the poor sections of society. He appreciated that the residents of cantonment areas, especially civilians with low income, are being provided improved medical and health care. He hoped that these services will continue to expand and improve, catering to the needs of the people.

Appreciating Directorate General of Defence Estates, Shri Rajnath Singh told the gathering, “It is said that building organisation, commanding respect and earning property are difficult, however, more difficult it is to maintain these. Your department is doing the important work of managing defence land with an area of more than 17 lakh acres, catering to the land requirements of the three wings of the Armed Forces and providing civil and municipal services to over 20 lakh residents of 62 cantonment areas of the country.”

Raksha Mantri appreciated the efforts being made by the department saying, “The goal of Defense Estate Organisation is to secure important land related interests of the Armed Forces and to cater to the needs/aspirations of the citizens of the cantonment area.” He suggested that officials should brainstorm periodically to improve the already well-maintained properties.

Shri Rajnath Singh highlighted that the Cantonment Councils carried out various important tasks under the “Digital India” programme. “Public services have been made faster, efficient and accessible to people. An app has been created through which various services are being made available to the people whose complaints will reach the concerned officers in a time-bound manner,” he said.

Raksha Mantri mentioned that he receives many requests related to organising traditional, social and cultural functions on defence land. He said there is a need to examine appropriate rules so that such requests can be considered positively.

Shri Rajnath Singh especially commended the role of cantonments in Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and making cantonment areas Open Defecation Free. He recalled his participation of an event in Delhi Cantt on the occasion of 150^th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on October 2, 2019.

The Defence Estates awards was introduced in 2013 to recognise the achievements in the field of health, education, cleanliness as well as new innovative and digitisation in Public Services and Land Management.

Following are the list of awardees:

Sr. No.	Category	Award winner
1	Arrangements of centres for handicapped children.	Cantonment Board, Kanpur
2	Improvement in Modus Operandi of Schools of cantonments Boards.	Primary/Middle School – Pune Cantonment Board   Secondary/Sr. Secondary School – Pune Cantonment  Board
3	Swachh Chawani – Swasth Chawani	Cantonment Board Delhi & Cantonment Board, Meerut (Cat –A) Cantonment Board Ahmedabad (Cat- B)
4	Achievement in the field of digitisation	Cantonment Board Delhi
5	Innovative procedures in public services	Cantonment Board Mhow
6	Land & Record Management	DEO, Secunderabad Circle
7	Improvement in Cantonment General Hospitals.	Cantonment Board Pune

During the programme Raksha Mantri also released a booklet titled, ‘Pratibimb 2019’. In this book a brief description on works and photographs on the occasion of ‘Clean India Drive’ and ‘150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’ performed by all cantonments boards during the year is compiled.

Chief of the Army Staff General Bipin Rawat, Secretary (Defence Finance) Smt Gargi Kaul, Director General Defence Estates Smt Deepa Bajwa and other senior military and civil officials of the Ministry of Defence also present on the occasion.

Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has permitted self-certification and third party inspection and certification of boilers with State Governments. Specimen notification under section-34(3) of the Boilers Act 1923 have been forwarded to them to ensure safety of boilers and improve Ease of Doing Business (EoDB). This will benefit a broad spectrum of industries both in the large and small scale sector like power plants, chemical plans, refineries, paper plants, steel mills, sugar mills and other process industries.

Rules and regulations are already in place for third party inspection. This has resulted in a simplified and more accessible, user – friendly framework for the administration of the Boilers Act and has also protected manufacturers/users’ interests without sacrificing the safety of boilers.

DPIIT has also taken a number of measures to simplify the procedure of inspection of boilers like eleven third party inspecting authorities have been recognized by the Central Boilers Board (CBB) to work in the country employing competent persons to carry out inspection of boilers and boiler components during manufacture and use, in addition to Chief Inspector/ Director of Boilers.

Independent Competent Persons have also been authorized to work in individual capacity under section-8 of the Boilers Act, for in-service inspection of boilers.

Simplified registration of boilers including facility for on-line registration and prescribed time limits for all approvals/clearances under the Boilers Act/IBR has also been implemented.

Self-certification of Boilers has been implemented in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Goa, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.

National and Regional Level Boiler Workshops are continuously being conducted by DPIIT through the National Productivity Council (NPC) to apprise the owners of boilers and of the steps that may be taken to optimize the efficiency of boilers and to popularize the measures for energy conservation.

In the current year nine workshops have been organized and another four workshops will be organized in future. A 5^th Examination was conducted through NPC in December, 2018 for recognition of Competent Persons (CPs) for undertaking inspection of boilers. Passing certificates were issued to 61 candidates. 172 CPs have so far qualified for Inspection and Certification of Boilers, on the basis of the 5^th examination. A 6^th Examination is proposed to be conducted in February.

DPIIT is the Department responsible for administration of the Boilers Act 1923. Boiler division is headed by the Technical Advisor (Boiler) and its functions are to advice the Central Government in all matters relating to administration of the Boilers Act, 1923 and the Indian Boiler regulations that have been framed under the Act. It deals with matters on which direction is to be given to State Governments by the Central Government for carrying out execution of the provisions of the Boilers Act, 1923. Apart from that it also deals with work relating to framing or amendment of regulations for laying down the standards for materials, design and construction of boilers and also for regulating the inspection and examination of boilers. It also evaluates quality management systems and production facilities of various firms in India and foreign countries as Competent Authorities (CAs). Steel makers, foundries, forges, tube and pipe makers and material testing laboratories make use of the CAs in order to cut down inspection delays and increased availability of boiler components without sacrificing safety and quality of boilers and its components.

The Boilers Act was enacted in 1923 to provide for safety of life and property from the danger of explosion of boilers and for achieving uniformity in registration and inspection during operation and maintenance of boilers throughout the country. Up to the year 2007 there had been no major amendments to the Act. The Indian Boilers (Amendment) Act, 2007 introduced improvements in the provisions of the law to enhance safety norms to keep pace with developments and changes in the technology of fabrication, testing, inspection and operation of boilers and also ensure uniformity in standards of inspection, expediting inspection and reducing bureaucratic delays by decentralization of inspection of boilers during their manufacture, erection and use by allowing inspection and certification by the independent inspecting authorities.

Secretary DPIIT is the Ex-Officio Chairman and Technical Advisor (Boilers) is the Ex-Officio Member Secretary of the Board.

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Chief Election Commissioner Sh. Sunil Arora, Election Commissioners Sh. Ashok Lavasa and Sh. Sushil Chandra reviewed poll preparedness for Delhi Assembly Elections at ECI Headquarters, Delhi  today on December 26, 2019.

DEOs, DCPs, Joint CPs ,Chairman NDMC, MCD Commissioner &CEO of Delhi Cantonment Board and nodal officers of various enforcement agencies attended the meeting. The Commission also held a separate meeting with  ChiefSecretary and Police Commissioner of Delhi.

Speaking  to the officers. the Chief Election Commissioner, Sh. Sunil Arora said that Constitution of India has given the mandate to Election Commission of India under Article 324 to conduct free, fair and credible elections.  CEC called upon election officials to conduct flawless election in the NCT of Delhi.

Election Commissioner, Shri Ashok Lavasa speaking on the occasion directed election officials to respond promptly on the complaints received through c-Vigil app and pay attention on the EVM/VVPAT trainings.

During the meeting, a brief presentation was made by Dr. Ranbir Singh, CEO, Delhi highlighting status of preparedness.  He gave the status with regard to electoral rolls, manpower availability, EVMs/VVPATs, training of all election officials, and SVEEP activities focusing and targeting low turnout areas for increasing the number of voter turnout. During the review Dr. Ranbir Singh, CEO informed the Commission regarding special measures taken for facilitating PwD and Sr. Citizens voters including Pick and Drop facility.  He also informed the Commission about the facilities being created at all Polling Station locations like provision of crèche facility, ramp, water facility, mobile locker, selfie point, waiting area, wheel chairs etc.

Sh. Praveer Ranjan, Spl. Commissioner, Delhi Police who is State Police Nodal Officer made a presentation about the general law and order situation prevailing in Delhi and action being planned by Delhi Police to enforce all the measures as mandated by the Commission.

The Commission directed all the DEOs and DCPs to ensure immediate assessment of vulnerable areas so as to prevent any intimidation. The Commission further directed all the DEOs to ensure provision of assured minimum facilities including ramp of gradient of 1:10 or lower and adequate facility of mobile toilets on locations having more than 6 polling booths.  The Commission directed all the local bodies to ensure that all facilities must be available at all polling locations strictly in line with the AMF standards prescribed by the Commission.  DEOs were further directed to properly coordinate with local bodies to remove any noticed deficiency.  The Commission emphasized the need for detailed hands-on training on EVM/VVPAT and directed the DEOs to personally monitor this.  The Commission  emphasized rigorous training for all MCC/Expenditure Monitoring Teams on cVigil to take immediate effective action against any complaints lodged by the citizen on this app. Commission further directed DEOs to ensure the proper and timely distribution of Photo Voters Slips.  Commission directed Transport Department to ensure sufficient number of smaller size vehicles for easy movement polling parties and machines in the narrow lanes.

CEC directed all DEOs and DCPs and all other departments to henceforth give utmost priority to the election work so as to ensure successful conduct of election.

During the meeting with Chief Secretary, Pr. Secretary (Home) and Commissioner of Police Delhi , the Commission asked them to ensure overall supervision and coordination with all Delhi Government Departments for smooth and peaceful conduct of Election.

The Full Commission reviewed the status of preparation at the level of Districts.  All DEOs along with their respective DCPs gave detailed presentations of their District.  The Commission was informed about the preparatory action taken by the DEOs in respect of finalization of Electoral Rolls, finalization of manpower requirements, training arrangementsandSVEEP initiatives etc.  DCPs informed the Commission about the law and order aspects of the Districts.

 

On this occasion, the Commission released a Coffee Table Book titled “Saluting the Voters of Delhi”published by CEO, Delhi on the Lok Sabha election 2019 in Delhi.

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Chief Election Commissioner Sh. Sunil Arora, Election Commissioners Sh. Ashok Lavasa and Sh. Sushil Chandra reviewed poll preparedness for Delhi Assembly Elections at ECI Headquarters, Delhi  today on December 26, 2019.

DEOs, DCPs, Joint CPs ,Chairman NDMC, MCD Commissioner &CEO of Delhi Cantonment Board and nodal officers of various enforcement agencies attended the meeting. The Commission also held a separate meeting with  ChiefSecretary and Police Commissioner of Delhi.

Speaking  to the officers. the Chief Election Commissioner, Sh. Sunil Arora said that Constitution of India has given the mandate to Election Commission of India under Article 324 to conduct free, fair and credible elections.  CEC called upon election officials to conduct flawless election in the NCT of Delhi.

Election Commissioner, Shri Ashok Lavasa speaking on the occasion directed election officials to respond promptly on the complaints received through c-Vigil app and pay attention on the EVM/VVPAT trainings.

During the meeting, a brief presentation was made by Dr. Ranbir Singh, CEO, Delhi highlighting status of preparedness.  He gave the status with regard to electoral rolls, manpower availability, EVMs/VVPATs, training of all election officials, and SVEEP activities focusing and targeting low turnout areas for increasing the number of voter turnout. During the review Dr. Ranbir Singh, CEO informed the Commission regarding special measures taken for facilitating PwD and Sr. Citizens voters including Pick and Drop facility.  He also informed the Commission about the facilities being created at all Polling Station locations like provision of crèche facility, ramp, water facility, mobile locker, selfie point, waiting area, wheel chairs etc.

Sh. Praveer Ranjan, Spl. Commissioner, Delhi Police who is State Police Nodal Officer made a presentation about the general law and order situation prevailing in Delhi and action being planned by Delhi Police to enforce all the measures as mandated by the Commission.

The Commission directed all the DEOs and DCPs to ensure immediate assessment of vulnerable areas so as to prevent any intimidation. The Commission further directed all the DEOs to ensure provision of assured minimum facilities including ramp of gradient of 1:10 or lower and adequate facility of mobile toilets on locations having more than 6 polling booths.  The Commission directed all the local bodies to ensure that all facilities must be available at all polling locations strictly in line with the AMF standards prescribed by the Commission.  DEOs were further directed to properly coordinate with local bodies to remove any noticed deficiency.  The Commission emphasized the need for detailed hands-on training on EVM/VVPAT and directed the DEOs to personally monitor this.  The Commission  emphasized rigorous training for all MCC/Expenditure Monitoring Teams on cVigil to take immediate effective action against any complaints lodged by the citizen on this app. Commission further directed DEOs to ensure the proper and timely distribution of Photo Voters Slips.  Commission directed Transport Department to ensure sufficient number of smaller size vehicles for easy movement polling parties and machines in the narrow lanes.

CEC directed all DEOs and DCPs and all other departments to henceforth give utmost priority to the election work so as to ensure successful conduct of election.

During the meeting with Chief Secretary, Pr. Secretary (Home) and Commissioner of Police Delhi , the Commission asked them to ensure overall supervision and coordination with all Delhi Government Departments for smooth and peaceful conduct of Election.

The Full Commission reviewed the status of preparation at the level of Districts.  All DEOs along with their respective DCPs gave detailed presentations of their District.  The Commission was informed about the preparatory action taken by the DEOs in respect of finalization of Electoral Rolls, finalization of manpower requirements, training arrangementsandSVEEP initiatives etc.  DCPs informed the Commission about the law and order aspects of the Districts.

 

On this occasion, the Commission released a Coffee Table Book titled “Saluting the Voters of Delhi”published by CEO, Delhi on the Lok Sabha election 2019 in Delhi.

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The Vice President of India, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu today stressed the need to dedicate the next decade, from 2020 – 2030 to make India healthier by promoting healthy lifestyle, improving healthcare facilities, making healthcare affordable and accessible to all.

Inaugurating Delta Hospitals in Rajahmundry today, he expressed concern over the rising incidence of Non-Communicable Diseases owing to the change in lifestyle and dietary habits and stressed the need for following healthy lifestyle practices.

Quoting WHO report, he said that around 61 percent of deaths in India were attributed to non-communicable diseases, including heart disorders, cancer, and diabetes.

He suggested launching a national movement against the growing incidence of non-communicable diseases and wanted hospitals, the Indian Medical Association and the medical fraternity to take the lead in creating awareness among people, especially the youth.

Highlighting the importance of creating awareness among children and the youth of the hazards caused by unhealthy dietary habits and sedentary lifestyles, the Vice President said that students in schools must be encouraged to take part in at least one physical activity or yoga every day to stay fit and healthy.

Pointing out that achieving universal healthcare has many challenges including bridging the urban-rural divide in providing quality healthcare facilities, Shri Naidu urged the private sector to expand its footprint to the villages and remote rural areas and reach out to people with affordable healthcare.

“It is important for the private sector to complement the efforts of the government in reaching modern healthcare facilities to people living in rural areas,” he added.

Stating that the Government of India has launched several initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat to increase citizens’ access to good quality, affordable healthcare with an aim to achieve Universal Health Coverage by 2030, the Vice President called upon the Private sector to supplement government’s efforts in achieving the 2030 target.

Shri Naidu urged doctors to show empathy and compassion towards the patients and treat their profession as a mission to serve the people and not as a commercial vocation.

​Shri Naidu while referring to the high stature given to professionals such as Doctors and Teachers in Indian culture asked them to keep service as their motto. He urged them to show emp​​athy and compassion towards the patients and treat their profession as a mission to serve the people and not as a commercial vocation.

He stressed the need to innovate and adopt the best practices from world over to improve healthcare services and treatment protocols.

Shri Bharat Ram, Member of Parliament, Dr R.B.P.R Chowdary, Chairman & Managing Director of Delta Hospitals, Shri B. Sreenivas, Director, Delta Hospitals were among the dignitaries who graced the event.

Following is the full text of the speech –

“Namaskar,

I am delighted to be present here in the beautiful city of Rajahmundry (Raja Mahendravaram) located on the banks of Godavari River today.

I am happy to inaugurate Delta Hospital headed by a highly talented and experienced team of doctors.

I am happy to know that the hospital is equipped to provide advanced treatment for cancer, cardiac and other ailments.

Dear sisters and brothers

Our country has made significant progress in improving its health outcomes over the years. We have eliminated polio, guinea worm disease, yaws, and maternal and neonatal tetanus.

It is to the credit of successive governments at the Centre and in various States that we could achieve it.

Our Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has reduced sharply from 3.4 in 1992-93 to 2.2 in 2015-16. Contrary to expectations, we were able to achieve the Millennium Development Goals in respect of the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR level of 130 against a target of 139) and almost succeeded in meeting the Under-5 child mortality target (U5 MR level of 43 against a target of 42).

The Government of India has initiated several reforms to improve citizens’ access to good quality, affordable healthcare with an aim to achieve Universal Health Coverage by 2030.

India’s vision for a healthy India requires a transformation of the delivery of health services in both urban and rural areas, by involving both the public and the private sectors. Apart from improving the infrastructure in the public health institutions at the district level and in villages, we need to overcome the shortage of doctors and trained paramedical personnel, both in urban and rural areas.

In the context of the rising Non-Communicable Diseases, owing to the change in lifestyle and dietary habits, there is an urgent need to focus on the health and wellbeing of all the people. WHO report says that around 61 percent of deaths in India are attributed to non-communicable diseases, including heart disorders, cancer, and diabetes.

We need to dedicate the next decade– from 2020 – 2030 to make India healthier by focusing on promoting a healthy lifestyle, improving healthcare facilities, making healthcare affordable and accessible to all.

The private sector must supplement the efforts of the government in improving the healthcare infrastructure, particularly in the rural areas and in providing affordable treatment to the common man.

As you all aware, the out-of-pocket expenses constitute a major chunk of the spending by patients. As a result, many poor and needy families end up in debts. This is an area of concern and needs to be addressed by all stakeholders in the health sector. I am happy that the Government of India has launched Ayushman Bharat to provide affordable health insurance to all.

In view of the growing incidence of non-communicable, the private must play a prominent role in setting up of NCD clinics in both urban and rural areas

All our efforts must be aimed at enhancing both the efficiency and quality of medical services. We need to innovate, learn from the best practices world over to improve healthcare without financially burdening people.

Dear sisters & brothers,

Achieving universal healthcare has many challenges including the urban-rural divide in quality healthcare facilities. The disparity in providing healthcare facilities, especially to those living in rural areas remains a major concern for all of us.

I urge the private sector to expand its footprint to the villages and remote rural areas and reach out to people with affordable healthcare. It is important for the private sector to complement the efforts of the government in reaching modern healthcare facilities people living in rural areas.

There is a need to launch a national movement against the growing incidence of non-communicable diseases and hospitals such as yours and the Indian Medical Association should take lead in creating awareness among the people, especially the youth.

Children and youth must be made aware of the hazards caused by unhealthy dietary habits and sedentary lifestyles. Students in schools must be encouraged to take part in at least one physical activity or yoga every day to stay fit and healthy.

I am sure the management of Delta Hospitals, Doctors and the professionals associated with the hospital will keep service as their motto and perform to the best of their abilities to deliver good healthcare to people of this region.

Jai Hind!”

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The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, visited  Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari from December 25 & 26, 2019.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said that we have gathered at a place which continuously emits to us highly positive vibes. It was this spiritual power of the rock at the very feet of Bharat Mata which drew Swami Vivekananda to Kanyakumari in his quest for inner peace. On this day 127 years ago, in 1892, Swamiji began deep meditation on this sacred spot. In three days and three nights, a simple monk transformed himself into an enlightened being and a global messenger of Bharatiya Sanatan Dharma Sanskriti. Swamiji attained enlightenment here and sparked a unique spiritual revolution. It was not for an individual’s own salvation; it was for the rejuvenation of the religious values of the motherland and service of its people.

In this context, let me recall letter by him written on 19th March, 1894, Swamiji wrote about his plans. He envisioned selfless sannyasins going from village to village, educating people and working to improve their condition. He wrote, “We, as a nation, have lost our individuality, and that is the cause of all mischief in India. We have to give back to the nation its lost individuality and raise the masses.”

 

Click here to see the President’s speech

 

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The following Recruitment Results have been finalized by the Union Public Service Commission during the month of November 2019. The recommended candidates have been informed individually by post.

Click here for details

 

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The Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, participated in World Cotton Day celebrations observed from 7^th October to 11^th October 2019 at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Geneva. The WTO organized the World Cotton Day event in collaboration with the Secretariats of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC). Union Minister of Textiles, Smriti Zubin Irani, participated in the plenary session of the event which was attended by heads of states and heads of international organisations.

WTO hosted the event at the request of the Cotton – 4 countries, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali to celebrate their official application for the recognition of 7^th October as World Cotton Day by the United Nations.  World Cotton Day celebrated the many advantages of cotton, from its qualities as a natural fibre, to the benefits people obtain from its production, transformation, trade and consumption. World Cotton Day also served to shed light on the challenges faced by cotton economies around the world because cotton is important to least developed, developing and developed economies worldwide.

Between 2011 and 2018, India implemented a Cotton Technical Assistance Programme (Cotton TAP-I) of about USD 2.85 million for seven African countries namely Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali and Chad and also Uganda, Malawi and Nigeria. The technical assistance focused on improving the competitiveness of the cotton and cotton-based textiles and apparel industry in these countries through a series of interventions which had significant outcomes leading to a demand for a follow on project.

At the Partners Conference in Geneva, Textiles Minister announced that India will launch the second phase of the Cotton Technical Assistance Programme (TAP) for Africa. In the five year long second phase, the programme will be scaled up in size and coverage and will be introduced in five additional countries, namely Mali, Ghana, Togo, Zambia and Tanzania. The Cotton TAP programme will now cover 11 African countries including the C4 (Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali).

Cotton is a global commodity that is produced all over the world and a single tonne of cotton provides year-round employment for five people on average. Cotton is a drought – resistant crop ideal for arid climates, it occupies just 2.1 % of the world’s arable land, yet it meets 27% of the world’s textiles need. In addition to its fibre used in textiles and apparel, food products are also derived from cotton like edible oil and animal feed from the seed.

Union Minister of Textiles tries her hand at the charkha at a demo during the World Cotton Day in Geneva on October 7, 2019

PROMOTION OF PASHMINA SHAWLS

Government of India has been providing marketing facilities for all handloom products including Pashmina Shawls all across the country under Handloom Marketing Assistance (HMA), a component of National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP).  Since 2016-17, a total of 678 Handloom Marketing events/expos have been organized in different states to help weavers from all across the country to sell their products. The above product is also registered as Kashmir Pashmina vide application No.46 under Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.

Government of India has sanctioned 2 Textile Parks in Jammu and Kashmir under Scheme for Integrated Textile Park (SITP). Details are as under:

Sl. No.	Name of Textile Park	District	GoI Share
1	J&K Textile Park, Kathua, Jammu	Kathua	39.70
2	Kashmir Wool & Silk Textile Park, Ghatti, J & K	Kathua	40.00

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has published an Indian Standard for identification, marking and labelling of Pashmina products to certify its purity in August this year.

The certification will help curb the adulteration of Pashmina and also protect the interests of local artisans and nomads of Ladakh who are the producers of Pashmina raw material. It will also assure the purity of Pashmina for customers.

The BIS certification of Pashmina will go a long way in discouraging counterfeit or substandard products presently mislabelled and sold as genuine Pashmina in the market.

TECHNICAL TEXTILES INDUSTRY IN INDIA

Technical textiles are material and products manufactured primarily for their technical properties and functional requirements rather than for aesthetic characteristics.  The scope of use of technical textiles encompasses a wide range of applications such as; agro-textiles, medical textiles, geo-textiles, protection-textiles, industrial-textiles, sports-textiles and many other usages.  Use of technical textiles have benefits of increased productivity in agriculture, horticulture and aquaculture fields; better protection of military, para-military, police and security forces, stronger and sturdier transportation infrastructure for highways, railways, ports and airports and in improving hygiene and healthcare of general public.  In India, technical textiles hold immense growth opportunities both for the industry as well as across various applications.

Technical textiles is the harbinger of many new age applications covering almost all walks of life, and having immense potential for bringing in higher level of productivity, efficiency, cost economics; and offering innovative solutions to many engineering and general applications. In addition to their commercial use, technical textiles have been identified for mandatory use across various important missions, programmes and schemes of the Government of India. Some of these are National Health Mission, Jal Jivan Mission, National Horticulture Mission and infrastructure development of highways, railways and ports.   In order to boost a rapid growth of the technical textile segment in the country, the government has taken following major initiatives:

207 technical textiles items have been brought under separate head in the Harmonised System of Nomenclature (HSN) code under the Foreign Trade Policy.

With a view to derive the benefits of technical textiles in various fields of applications, currently 92 application areas have been identified for mandatory use across 10 Central Ministries/Departments. Technical textiles has seen an increase in exports by 11% in April – June quarter of 2019.

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has developed standards for 348 technical textiles products.

On request from the Industry, Ministry of Textiles has included 6 additional courses for technical textiles in its Skill Development Programme called Samarth.

The work of conducting fresh baseline survey on technical textiles sector has been given to IIT Delhi.

The Ministry has issued Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order dated 23.10.2019, prescribing minimum local purchase content for technical textiles items in 10 segments for government procurement.

In terms of the projections of the last baseline survey on technical textiles submitted in 2015, the market size in India for the year 2017-18 is projected as Rs 1,16,217 crore.  Although, there is no projection in the last baseline study with regard to the projections for the 2020-21, taking into account the current trend of growth and various initiatives of the Government, domestic market size of the technical textiles is expected to cross Rs 2 lakh crores by the year 2020-21.

Scheme for Promoting Usage of Agro textiles in North East Region:

The usage of Agro textiles in the North East Region has led to average increase in farmers’ income by 67% to 75%. Increase in intensity of crop cycles by 3 to 4 crops in a year is seen as there is cultivation throughout the year. It has led to reduced water consumption by 30%-45% and has prevented damages to crops due to birds and hailstone.

Scheme for Promoting Usage of Geotechnical Textiles in North East Region:

Use of Geotextiles in infrastructure projects has led to improvement of serviceability of the infrastructure and increased maintenance intervals for infrastructure such as roads and hill slopes.

National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT)

Two new NIFT campuses will be set up at Panchkula (Haryana) and Ranchi (Jharkhand). At present, NIFT has 16 Campuses all over India:

S. No	NIFT Campuses	State
1	Bengaluru	Karnataka
2	Bhopal	Madhya Pradesh
3	Bhubaneswar	Odisha
4	Chennai	Tamil Nadu
5	Gandhinagar	Gujarat
6	Hyderabad	Telangana
7	Jodhpur	Rajasthan
8	Kangra	Himachal Pradesh
9	Kannur	Kerala
10	Kolkata	West Bengal
11	Mumbai	Maharashtra
12	New Delhi	Delhi
13	Patna	Bihar
14	Raebareli	Uttar Pradesh
15	Shillong	Meghalaya
16	Srinagar	Jammu & Kashmir

In view of the recent trends of apparels and costumes, and based on the feasibility study conducted by NIFT, the following Under Graduate Programmes will be introduced by NIFT at its existing two NIFT campuses from academic session 2020-21.

       NIFT Shillong

             1) Bachelor of Design (Textile Design)

             2) Bachelor of Design (Fashion Communication)

       NIFT Bhopal

          1) Bachelor of Design (Fashion Communication)

2) Bachelor of Design (Fashion Design)

3) Bachelor of Fashion Technology (Apparel Production)

The above programmes will be in addition to the existing programmes already running at these campuses.

INTEGRATED TEXTILE PARKS

The Government is implementing the Scheme for Integrated Textile Park (SITP) which provides support for creation of world-class infrastructure facilities for setting up of textile units, with a Government of India grant up to 40% of the project cost subject to a ceiling of Rs. 40 crore.  However, Government of India grant is up to 90% of the project cost for first two projects (each) in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir with ceiling of Rs. 40 crore for each textile park.

The Scheme is demand driven. A total of 59 textile parks have been sanctioned under SITP by the Ministry of Textiles out of which 22 textile parks have been completed and rest are under various stages of construction. The details are given below:

S.No.	Name of the Park	Location	State
1	Islampur Integrated Textile Park	Islampur	Maharashtra
2	Latur Integrated Textile park	Latur	Maharashtra
3	Amitara Green Hi-tech Textile Park	Ahmedabad	Gujarat
4	Karanj Textile Park	Surat	Gujarat
5	Shahlon Textile Park	Surat	Gujarat
6	Palsana Textile Park	Surat	Gujarat
7	Shanti Integrated Textile Park	Surat	Gujarat
8	Satyaraj Integrated Textile Park	Ichalkaranji	Maharashtra
9	Dhule Textile Park	Dhule	Maharashtra
10	Shree Ganesh Integrated Textile Park	Dhule	Maharashtra
11	Aalishan Eco Textile Park	Panipat	Haryana
12	Guntur Textile Park	Guntur	Andhra Pradesh
13	Tarakeaswara Textile Park	Nellore	Andhra Pradesh
14	Brandix India Apparel City Private Limited	Vishakhapatnam	Andhra Pradesh
15	Gujarat Eco Textile Park Limited,	Surat	Gujarat
16	Mundra SEZ Textile & Apparel Park Limited,	Kutch	Gujarat
17	Fairdeal Textile Park Pvt. Ltd.,	Surat	Gujarat
18	Vraj Integrated Textile Park Limited ,	Ahmadabad	Gujarat
19	Sayana Textile Park Ltd.,	Surat	Gujarat
20	Doddabalapur Integrated Textile Park,	Doddabalapur	Karnataka
21	Metro Hi-Tech Cooperative Park Limited,	Icchalkaranji,	Maharashtra
22	Pride India cooperative Textile park Limited,	Icchalkaranji,	Maharashtra
23	Baramati Hi Tech Textile Park Limited,	Baramati,	Maharashtra
24	Purna Global Textiles Park Ltd.	Hingoli	Maharashtra
25	Lotus Integrated Tex Park	Barnala,	Punjab
26	Rhythm Textile & Apparel Park Ltd,	Nawanshehar,	Punjab
27	Ludhiana Integrated Textile Park Ltd,	Ludhiana	Punjab
28	Kishangarh Hi-Tech Textile Weaving Park Limited ,	Kishangarh,	Rajasthan
29	Next Gen Textile Park Pvt Ltd ,	Pali,	Rajasthan
30	Jaipur Integrated Texcraft Park Pvt Ltd,	Jaipur,	Rajasthan
31	Palladam Hi-Tech Weaving park,	Palladam,	Tamilnadu
32	Komarapalayam Hi-Tech Weaving Park Ltd. ,	Komalarapallyam,	Tamilnadu.
33	Karur Integrated Textile Park,	Karur Park	Tamilnadu
34	Madurai Integrated Textile Park Ltd,	Madurai,	Tamilnadu
35	The Great Indian Linen & Textile Infrastructure Company, Uthukuli,	Tirupur District	Tamil Nadu
36	Pochampally Handloom Park Limited,	Bhuvangiri	Telangana
37	White Gold Textile Park,	Rangareddy	Andhra Pradesh
38	Hosiery Park	Howrah	West Bengal
39	Prag Jyoti Textile Park	Darang	Assam
40	Hindupur Vyapar Apparel Park Limited	Ananatpuram	Andhra Pradesh
41	MAS Fabric Park (India Ltd	Nellore	Andhra Pradesh
42	Surat Super Yarn Park Limited,	Surat	Gujarat
43	Kejriwal Integrated Textile Park,	Surat	Gujarat
44	J&K Textile Park,	Kathua	J&K
45	Gulbarga Textile Park,	Gulbarga	Karnataka
46	SIMA Textile Processing Centre,	Cuddalore,	Tamilnadu
47	EIGMEF Apparel Park Ltd.,	Kolkata	West Bengal
48	Asmeeta Infratech Ltd.	Thane	Maharashtra
49	Deesan Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd.	Dhule	Maharashtra
50	RJD Integrated Textile Park Pvt. Ltd.	Surat	Gujarat
51	Kashmir Wool and Silk Textile Park	Ghatti	J&K
52	Farrukhabad Textile Park	Farukkhabad	Uttar Pradesh
53	Eco-Tex Textile Park	Bareily	Uttar Pradesh
54	NSP Infrastruture Pvt. Ltd	Surat	Gujarat
55	Hinganghat Integrated Textile Park	Vidharbha	Maharashtra
56	Pallavada Technical Textiles Park Pvt	Erode	Tamilnadu
57	Himachal Textile Park	Una	Himachal Pradesh
58	Kancheepuram Perarignar Anna Silk Park.	Kanchipuram	Tamilnadu
59	Kalapana Awade Textile Park	Kolhapur	Maharashtra

Two textile parks have been sanctioned in Uttar Pradesh so far, under the Scheme:

Sr. No.	Name of the Park	Location	Year of sanction	GOI grant (in Rs. Crore)	Status
1	Farrukhabad Textile Park	Farrukhabad	2016	40.00	Sanctioned
2	Eco-Tex Textile Park	Bareilly	2015	40.00	Sanctioned

CAPACITY BUILDING IN TEXTILE SECTOR

The Government has approved a skill development scheme titled SAMARTH, a Scheme for Capacity Building in Textile Sector, covering the entire value chain of the textile sector, excluding Spinning and Weaving in the organized sector, on pan India basis, including the state of Tripura, for a period of three years from 2017-18 to 2019-20, with an outlay of Rs.1300 crore to train 10 lakh persons. The salient features of the scheme are:

1. Training programmes are aligned with the provisions of Common Norms and courses offered under the scheme are National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) compliant.
2. Web based MIS for ease of implementation and monitoring.

• (iii) Physical verification of Training Centres before allocation of training target.
• (iv) 70% mandatory placement within 3 months of completion of training for organized sector.

1. Training by certified Trainers having cleared Training of Trainers (ToT) course.

• (vi) Aadhaar Enabled Biometric Attendance System (AEBAS).

1. CCTV recording of entire training programme and assessment process.
2. Post Placement tracking.

• (ix) Mobile App for different stakeholders for ease of monitoring and implementation.

1. Preference to be given to marginalized social group and aspirational districts.

• (xi) Public grievance redressal mechanism.

1. Internal Complaints Committee under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibitions & Redressal) Act, 2013.

The details of State Government agencies allocated skilling targets so far and signed Memorandum of Understanding with Ministry of Textiles for undertaking training programme under Samarth, at a function held on 14th August, 2019 in New Delhi, are given below:

S. No.	Name of Implementing Agency	State
1	Arunachal Pradesh Handloom & Handicrafts Society Lt.	Arunachal Pradesh
2	Indian Institute of Handloom Technology, Kannur	Kerala
3	Handloom & Handicrafts Wing, Directorate of Commerce & Industries	Mizoram
4	Handloom & Textiles	Tamil Nadu
5	Telangana State Textile Complex Cooperative Society	Telangana
6	U P Industrial Cooperative Association Ltd	Uttar Pradesh
7	Khadi Village Industries Board (UPKVIB)	Uttar Pradesh
8	Institute of Entrepreneurship Development, Kanpur	Uttar Pradesh
9	Uttarakhand Skill Development Society, Dehradun	Uttarakhand
10	Director of Handlooms & Textiles-Andhra Pradesh	Andhra Pradesh
11	Assam Skill Development Mission	Assam
12	Handloom Textiles & Sericulture Department	Assam
13	Madhya Pradesh Laghu Udyog Nigam	Madhya Pradesh
14	Directorate of Skill Development	Tripura
15	Karnataka State Textile Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited	Karnataka
16	Department of Textiles, Commerce & Industry, Directorate of Handlooms & Textiles, Government of Manipur	Manipur
17	Directorate of Industries & Commerce	Haryana
18	Directorate of Sericulture & Weaving	Meghalaya
19	Directorate of Handloom, Sericulture & handicraft	Jharkhand
20.	Jammu & Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute*	Jammu & Kashmir*
21.	Institute of Entrepreneurship Development Odisha*	Odisha*

*MoU has not been signed yet.

The Ministry has allocated over 4 lakh skilling targets in organised and traditional sectors to Government agencies in 18 States and skilling targets in traditional sector to Sectoral Organisations of Ministry of Textiles (Central Silk Board, Development Commissioner of Handicrafts, Development Commissioner of Handloom and National Jute Board) for commencing the training programme under the scheme. Process of empanelment and training target allocation to textile industry/industry association has also commenced as per the scheme guidelines.

The details of amount allocated and utilized since the inception of the Samarth scheme are given below:

Year	Fund allocated (Rs. in crore)	Fund utilised (Rs. in crore)
2017-18	100.00	100.00
2018-19	42.00	16.98
2019-20 (as on date)	100.50	17.39
Total	242.50	134.37

A web based centralised Management Information System (MIS) has been operationalized for monitoring of all aspects of the implementation of the training programme under the scheme. All aspects of the training programme viz. proposal for empanelling of implementing partners, training centre verification, trainee enrolment, Aadhaar Enabled Biometric Attendance System, Assessment & Certification, placement & tracking of trainees and payment to implementing partners are interfaced with the web based MIS of Samarth.

Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL)

On 6th March 2019, Cabinet approved a Scheme for Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) to enhance competitiveness of apparel and made-ups exports. Rebate of Taxes/levies was approved through an IT driven script system at notified rates up to 31.03.2020.

POWERTEX INDIA

Under Powertex India 4797 looms have been upgraded under the in-situ Upgradation Scheme for Plain Powerloom and Rs.44.98 crores have been released. In the Group Workshed Scheme 141 projects have been approved and Rs. 7.64 crores have been released. In the Yarn Bank Scheme 8 projects have been approved and Rs.5.27 crores have been released. 12 Buyers Seller Meet organized at a cost of Rs.1.35 crores. Nineteen Powerloom Service Centres have been set up at a cost of Rs.4.58 crores.

GROWTH OF SILK PRODUCTION

Integrated Scheme for Development of the Silk Industry

For the development of the Indian silk industry patents have been obtained for 5 technology packages, 50 research projects have been concluded and 55 technology packages disseminated. 13885 persons have been trained under various programmes organized by the Research & Training institutes of Central Silk Board (CSB).

The total raw silk production has increased by 11% (35,468 MT) during 2018-19 over the previous year 2017-18 (31,906 MT). The bivoltine raw silk production achieved a record production of 6,987 MT during 2018-19 by registering 18.95% growth over previous year. Raw silk yield per hectare has increased to 105 kg during 2018-19 compared to 96 kg during 2014-15

The Textiles Ministry has taken various steps through the Central Silk Board (CSB) to protect the interest of the silk producers.

CSB through a restructured Central Sector Scheme Silk Samagra and 38 projects under North East Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS) protects the interests of the farmers by supporting them through beneficiary oriented components like raising of kisan nursery, plantation with improved mulberry varieties, irrigation, chawki rearing centres with incubation facility, construction of rearing houses, rearing equipment and door to door service agents for disinfection. 42,026 beneficiaries have been covered. Mulberry plantation in 32,552 acres have been developed. Raw silk production in the North East region has increased from 4,602 MT in 2013-14 to 7,482 MT 2018-19 with total increase from 17% to 22% of India’s total production. It has generated employment for the tribal communities and also created sustainable livelihood for them. The positive impact of this is reflected in significant increase in Disease Free Layings (dfls) consumption, cocoon production, raw silk production besides increase in income from sericulture and its share in the total annual family income.

Strengthened Research & Development system to improve the levels of cocoon production and productivity to develop improved mulberry/host plant varieties, silkworm hybrids and technology packages to minimize drudgery.

For production of 3A-4A grade raw silk from the bivoltine cocoons, Automatic Reeling Machines (ARM) have been established in the country.

Central Silk Board and State Governments mobilize additional funds for sericulture development through convergence by availing the schemes such as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) being implemented by various other Ministries of Government of India.

The basic customs duty of 10% & 20% is levied on raw silk and silk fabric import respectively. This makes the domestic silk weaving market segment stronger and also makes Indian silk export sector highly competitive.

The Jute and Jute textile industry:

The jute industry occupies an important place in the economy of India and is one of the major industries in the eastern region, particularly in West Bengal. Jute, the golden fibre, meets all the standards for safe packaging in view of being a natural, renewable, biodegradable and eco-friendly product. It is estimated that the jute industry provides direct employment to 0.37 million workers in organized mill and in diversified units and supports the livelihood of around 4.0 million farm families.

Development of Jute Sector

For the welfare of jute farmers the JUTE – ICARE (Improved Cultivation and Advanced Retting Exercise) has been launched to promote scientific practices related to Jute Cultivation for Quality & Quantity improvements. In order to facilitate modernization and up-gradation of technology in existing/ new jute mills and JDP units an incentive Scheme for Acquisition of Select Machinery (ISAPM) has been launched.

In order to facilitate registered jute exporters for participating in foreign fairs/BSMs and Trade delegations to enhance exports of jute products an Export Market Development Assistance Scheme (EMDA) has been launched. To support jute entrepreneurs to display and promote jute diversified products through retail outlets in Metro cities, State Capitals and tourist places Retail Outlet of Jute Diversified Products and Bulk Supply Scheme has been put in place.

In order to provide assistance to the jute mills by supporting construction cost for toilet blocks for the jute mill workers a Workers’ Welfare Scheme (Sulabh Sauchalaya) has been implemented. Incentives are being given to successful 10th & 12th class girl children of workers of Jute Mills / MSMEs in order to provide education support.

To create new/ skilled work force for production of value added JDPs, to provide self-employment opportunity and facilitate backward and forward linkage to the existing and new entrepreneurs the Jute Integrated Development Scheme (JIDS) has been launched. To supply jute raw materials to MSMEs Units and artisans at mill gate price plus actual transportation cost the Jute Raw Material Bank (JRMB) scheme has been put in place.

In order to promote the Indian Jute Industry, the Government has set up the Indian Jute Industries’ Research Association (IJIRA). A variety of research activities has been undertaken by IJIRA for enabling faster retting of jute plant, softening of hard root cuttings of jute and eco-  friendly oil-free processing of jute.

In the field of product development IJIRA has developed light-weight jute bag, Jute Geotextiles for construction of rural roads, Jute-thermoplastic composites and Bio-degradable laminates for jute cloth. IJIRA has also developed high-end products like jute-based air filter media, valuable chemicals from jute stick and process waste and jute-based sanitary napkins. In the field of machinery development, IJIRA has developed high-speed roller drafting machine and Continuous damping-calendaring-cutting machine.

COMPREHENSIVE HANDLOOM DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

The Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) is targeted at development of Mega Handloom Clusters in clearly identifiable geographical locations covering at least 15000 handlooms with the Government of India contributing up to Rs.40 crore per cluster over a period of 5 years. Components such as conducting diagnostic study and corpus for raw material are fully funded by the Government of India whereas components like lighting units, technological up-gradation of looms and accessories are 90% funded by the Government of India.  Other components such as creation of infrastructure for design studio/ marketing complex/garmenting unit, marketing development, assistance for exports and publicity are 80% funded by the Government of India.

Eight Mega Handloom Clusters viz. Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), Sivasagar (Assam), Virudhunagar (Tamil Nadu), Murshidabad (West Bengal), Prakasam and Guntur districts (Andhra Pradesh), Godda & neighbouring districts (Jharkhand), Bhagalpur (Bihar) and Trichy (Tamil Nadu) have been taken up for development. Under the CHCDS, around 1.75 lakh handloom weavers have been covered for which Rs. 131.91 crore has been released for various interventions during the last four financial years and the current financial year.

Furthermore, under National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP), based on the viable proposals received from the State Governments, 294 Block Level Clusters (BLCs) have been sanctioned in the country covering around 1.6 lakh handloom weavers for which Rs. 165.99 crore has been released for various interventions during the last four financial years and the current financial year.

Under the MUDRA scheme loans were sanctioned to 35952 weavers with a total disbursement of Rs 181.68 crore. 8611 handloom workers have been provided skill upgradation training. 7417 Hathkargha Samvardhan Sahayata (HSS) items have been distributed to 7285 beneficiaries.

Financial Assistance of Rs 38.77 crores has been provided to 34 aspirational districts for handloom development. Hastkala Sahyog Shivirs are being organized throughout the country to spread awareness about various schemes and benefits available to the Artisans and Weavers. In order to enhance the weavers’ income, direct interface of textile companies are being developed with handloom clusters. Producer companies of handloom weavers, societies and SHGs are being formed under the Companies Act.

MODERNIZATION OF HANDLOOMS

In 2018-19, 29.93 lakh bales have been imported and 42.83 lakh bales exported up to 31.01.2019 as per Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS), Kolkata. Cotton balance sheet including quantity of import and export as finalized by the Cotton Advisory Board (CAB) for last 3 years are as under:

(Quantity in lakh bales of 170 Kgs)
Crop Year	Opening stock	Production	Import	Consumption	Export	Closing stock
2016-17	36.44	345.00	30.94	310.41	58.21	43.76
2017-18	43.76	370.00	15.80	3019.06	67.59	42.91
2018-19 (P)	42.91	337.00	22.00	311.50	50.00	40.41

Taking into account demand and supply situation in the country, as per above statement, there is sufficient availability of cotton in the country.

Ministry of Textiles has been implementing – (i) Yarn Supply Scheme throughout the country to make available all types of yarn at mill gate price to handloom weavers. The scheme is being implemented through National Handloom Development Corporation.  Under the Scheme freight is reimbursed and depot operating charges at 2% is given to depot operating agencies.  For Handlooms, a component of 10% price subsidy also exists on hank yarn, which is applicable on cotton, domestic silk, wool and linen yarn with quantity caps.

(ii) In Power loom sector, Yarn Bank Scheme provides interest free corpus fund of up to Rs.2.00 crores to Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)/ Consortium of Power loom weavers to enable them to purchase yarn at wholesale rate and give the yarn at reasonable price to the small weavers. 89 Yarn banks are in operation on pan India basis involving interest free corpus fund of Rs.26.17 crores of Government of India. There is no scarcity of supply of yarn to the Power loom weavers.

The Government of India, Ministry of Textiles has been implementing Block Level Cluster under National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP) and Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) for providing skill upgradation training in Weaving, Dyeing, Designing. disciplines and also provide upgraded looms/ accessories to handloom weavers to improve quality of fabric and enhance productivity.    Total 436 Block Level Clusters have been sanctioned from 2015-16 to 2019-20 (till 18.11.2019) under NHDP/CHCDS covering 303366 beneficiaries across the country out of this, 52 BLCs have been sanctioned to Tamil Nadu covering 58268 beneficiaries.

For welfare of the handloom weavers, life & accident insurance coverage is provided to handloom weavers/ workers enrolled under the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and converged Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana (MGBBY) across the country.  The details of benefits and total annual premium, share i.e. Government of India, LIC and Weavers/ Workers under PMJJBY/ PMSBY & converged MGGBY under Handloom Weavers Comprehensive Welfare Scheme is as under:

Scheme components	Age group	Insurance coverage	Benefits (in Rs.)	Annual premium
Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY)	18- 50 years	Natural Death	2,00,000	Rs.330/-   GoI share – Rs.150/- LIC share –  Rs.100/- Weaver/worker – Rs.80/-
		Accidental Death	2,00,000
Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY)	18- 50 years	Accidental Death	2,00,000	Rs.12/- entirely borne by Government of India (GoI)
		Total Disability	2,00,000
		Partial Disability	1,00,000
Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana (MGBBY)	51- 59 years	Natural Death	60,000	Rs.470/-   GoI share – Rs.290/- LIC share –  Rs.100/- Weaver/worker – Rs.80/-
		Accidental Death	1,50,000
		Total Disability	1,50,000
		Partial    Disability	75,000

Ministry of Textiles has signed Memorandums of Understanding with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) to secure educational facilities for the weavers and their families.  NIOS offers Secondary and Senior Secondary level education with specialized subjects on design, marketing, business development, etc. through distance learning mode for handloom weavers, whereas IGNOU offers continuing education programs through accessible and flexible learning opportunities relevant to the aspirations of handloom weavers and their children for career progression. Ministry of Textiles is providing reimbursement of 75% of the fee towards admission to NIOS/IGNOU courses in case of SC, ST, BPL, and Women learners belonging to handloom weavers’ families.

UPLIFTMENT OF HANDICRAFTS

For the upliftment of the handicrafts sector financial assistance is provided to handicrafts artisans under Direct Benefit to Artisans under following schemes of Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles:

(i) Mudra Loan with Interest Subvention & Margin Money for Handicrafts Artisans:

Under Mudra Loan assistance is provided to artisans/weavers with Interest subvention of 6 % for a period of 3 years to a maximum limit of Rs.100000 to meet their credit requirements. Further to encourage the artisans to avail the facility of MUDRA loan, 20% of loan amount is also being provided as margin money in their loan amount not exceeding Rs. 10,000. Handicrafts Service Centers are facilitating artisans in availing the credit facility by mobilizing them, creating awareness and submitting applications to the Banks.

(ii) Support to Artisans in Indigent Circumstances (Pension Scheme):

This scheme provides financial assistance to artisans who are the recipient of Shilp Guru Award/ National Award/ Nation Merit Certificate holders/ State Award in handicrafts and are not less than 60 years of age having annual income less then Rs. 50,000. Financial assistance of Rs. 3,500 per month is given to Master Craftsperson in indigent circumstances.

(iii) Insurance Scheme for Handicrafts Artisans:

Handicrafts artisans /workers in the age group of 18-50 years are being provided life, accident and disability cover under the PMJJBY and PMSBY. Handicrafts artisans /workers in the age group of 5l-59 years already enrolled under the Aam Admi Bima Yojana (AABY) are covered under the Converged Modified Aam Admi Bima Yojana (Converged AABY).

(iv) MoU with NIOS and IGNOU:

MoUs have been signed between Ministry of Textiles and National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). Another MoU has been signed between Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) for collaboration in the area of education for handicrafts artisans and their children wherein reimbursement of 75% of the fee for SC/ST/BPL and the women artisans is being made. In the MoU there is provision for designing courses exclusively for the handicrafts artisans and their children. Accordingly, NIOS has been sanctioned 15 training programme in Zari Zardozi craft in the Varanasi region under the component of Training through Established Institutions of Human Resource Development Scheme. So far, 99 Scheduled Caste artisans have completed training and are practicing the craft at present with enhanced earning.

The Ministry of Textiles implements various schemes for promotion and development of handicrafts sector under National Handicrafts Development Programme (NHDP) and Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS).

The NHDP has following components:

1. Base Line Survey & Mobilization of Artisans under Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojana,
2. Design & Technology Up gradation,
3. Human Resource Development,
4. Direct Benefit to Artisans,
5. Infrastructure and Technology Support,
6. Research and Development,
7. Marketing Support & Services.

The CHCDS has following components: 

1. Mega Cluster
2. Special projects under Integrated Development and Promotion of Handicrafts (IDPH).

The Government has taken initiative to implement cluster development project under Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojna (AHVY) for the overall development of artisans in Uttar Pradesh. 62 clusters have been sanctioned during last three years in Uttar Pradesh where 31000 artisans have benefitted. The Government has taken initiative under CHCDS, whereas 4 handicrafts mega cluster at Mirzapur -Bhadhoi, Moradabad, Bareilly & Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh have been sanctioned. Twenty-one New Block Level Clusters have been sanctioned.

Under PAHCHAN initiative, 23.68 lakh artisans have been provided Identity Cards up to March 31st 2019. 50000 new artisans will be enrolled under PAHCHAN initiative. 309 Handicrafts training programmes have been proposed under HRD scheme to benefit 7600 artisans directly.

In order to promote India’s handicrafts 5754 Improved tool kits have been distributed and 2000 Toolkits will be distributed under Design and Technical Upgradation scheme. 327 Handicrafts Training programmes have been organised to benefit 6720 artisans directly.

63 Domestic and 54 International Marketing events have been organized to benefit 12075 artisans directly. 190 Domestic and 80 International Marketing events have been proposed in the year 2019-20.

***

MM/ SB

The Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, participated in World Cotton Day celebrations observed from 7^th October to 11^th October 2019 at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Geneva. The WTO organized the World Cotton Day event in collaboration with the Secretariats of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC). Union Minister of Textiles, Smriti Zubin Irani, participated in the plenary session of the event which was attended by heads of states and heads of international organisations.

WTO hosted the event at the request of the Cotton – 4 countries, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali to celebrate their official application for the recognition of 7^th October as World Cotton Day by the United Nations.  World Cotton Day celebrated the many advantages of cotton, from its qualities as a natural fibre, to the benefits people obtain from its production, transformation, trade and consumption. World Cotton Day also served to shed light on the challenges faced by cotton economies around the world because cotton is important to least developed, developing and developed economies worldwide.

Between 2011 and 2018, India implemented a Cotton Technical Assistance Programme (Cotton TAP-I) of about USD 2.85 million for seven African countries namely Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali and Chad and also Uganda, Malawi and Nigeria. The technical assistance focused on improving the competitiveness of the cotton and cotton-based textiles and apparel industry in these countries through a series of interventions which had significant outcomes leading to a demand for a follow on project.

At the Partners Conference in Geneva, Textiles Minister announced that India will launch the second phase of the Cotton Technical Assistance Programme (TAP) for Africa. In the five year long second phase, the programme will be scaled up in size and coverage and will be introduced in five additional countries, namely Mali, Ghana, Togo, Zambia and Tanzania. The Cotton TAP programme will now cover 11 African countries including the C4 (Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali).

Cotton is a global commodity that is produced all over the world and a single tonne of cotton provides year-round employment for five people on average. Cotton is a drought – resistant crop ideal for arid climates, it occupies just 2.1 % of the world’s arable land, yet it meets 27% of the world’s textiles need. In addition to its fibre used in textiles and apparel, food products are also derived from cotton like edible oil and animal feed from the seed.

Union Minister of Textiles tries her hand at the charkha at a demo during the World Cotton Day in Geneva on October 7, 2019

PROMOTION OF PASHMINA SHAWLS

Government of India has been providing marketing facilities for all handloom products including Pashmina Shawls all across the country under Handloom Marketing Assistance (HMA), a component of National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP).  Since 2016-17, a total of 678 Handloom Marketing events/expos have been organized in different states to help weavers from all across the country to sell their products. The above product is also registered as Kashmir Pashmina vide application No.46 under Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.

Government of India has sanctioned 2 Textile Parks in Jammu and Kashmir under Scheme for Integrated Textile Park (SITP). Details are as under:

Sl. No.	Name of Textile Park	District	GoI Share
1	J&K Textile Park, Kathua, Jammu	Kathua	39.70
2	Kashmir Wool & Silk Textile Park, Ghatti, J & K	Kathua	40.00

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has published an Indian Standard for identification, marking and labelling of Pashmina products to certify its purity in August this year.

The certification will help curb the adulteration of Pashmina and also protect the interests of local artisans and nomads of Ladakh who are the producers of Pashmina raw material. It will also assure the purity of Pashmina for customers.

The BIS certification of Pashmina will go a long way in discouraging counterfeit or substandard products presently mislabelled and sold as genuine Pashmina in the market.

TECHNICAL TEXTILES INDUSTRY IN INDIA

Technical textiles are material and products manufactured primarily for their technical properties and functional requirements rather than for aesthetic characteristics.  The scope of use of technical textiles encompasses a wide range of applications such as; agro-textiles, medical textiles, geo-textiles, protection-textiles, industrial-textiles, sports-textiles and many other usages.  Use of technical textiles have benefits of increased productivity in agriculture, horticulture and aquaculture fields; better protection of military, para-military, police and security forces, stronger and sturdier transportation infrastructure for highways, railways, ports and airports and in improving hygiene and healthcare of general public.  In India, technical textiles hold immense growth opportunities both for the industry as well as across various applications.

Technical textiles is the harbinger of many new age applications covering almost all walks of life, and having immense potential for bringing in higher level of productivity, efficiency, cost economics; and offering innovative solutions to many engineering and general applications. In addition to their commercial use, technical textiles have been identified for mandatory use across various important missions, programmes and schemes of the Government of India. Some of these are National Health Mission, Jal Jivan Mission, National Horticulture Mission and infrastructure development of highways, railways and ports.   In order to boost a rapid growth of the technical textile segment in the country, the government has taken following major initiatives:

207 technical textiles items have been brought under separate head in the Harmonised System of Nomenclature (HSN) code under the Foreign Trade Policy.

With a view to derive the benefits of technical textiles in various fields of applications, currently 92 application areas have been identified for mandatory use across 10 Central Ministries/Departments. Technical textiles has seen an increase in exports by 11% in April – June quarter of 2019.

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has developed standards for 348 technical textiles products.

On request from the Industry, Ministry of Textiles has included 6 additional courses for technical textiles in its Skill Development Programme called Samarth.

The work of conducting fresh baseline survey on technical textiles sector has been given to IIT Delhi.

The Ministry has issued Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order dated 23.10.2019, prescribing minimum local purchase content for technical textiles items in 10 segments for government procurement.

In terms of the projections of the last baseline survey on technical textiles submitted in 2015, the market size in India for the year 2017-18 is projected as Rs 1,16,217 crore.  Although, there is no projection in the last baseline study with regard to the projections for the 2020-21, taking into account the current trend of growth and various initiatives of the Government, domestic market size of the technical textiles is expected to cross Rs 2 lakh crores by the year 2020-21.

Scheme for Promoting Usage of Agro textiles in North East Region:

The usage of Agro textiles in the North East Region has led to average increase in farmers’ income by 67% to 75%. Increase in intensity of crop cycles by 3 to 4 crops in a year is seen as there is cultivation throughout the year. It has led to reduced water consumption by 30%-45% and has prevented damages to crops due to birds and hailstone.

Scheme for Promoting Usage of Geotechnical Textiles in North East Region:

Use of Geotextiles in infrastructure projects has led to improvement of serviceability of the infrastructure and increased maintenance intervals for infrastructure such as roads and hill slopes.

National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT)

Two new NIFT campuses will be set up at Panchkula (Haryana) and Ranchi (Jharkhand). At present, NIFT has 16 Campuses all over India:

S. No	NIFT Campuses	State
1	Bengaluru	Karnataka
2	Bhopal	Madhya Pradesh
3	Bhubaneswar	Odisha
4	Chennai	Tamil Nadu
5	Gandhinagar	Gujarat
6	Hyderabad	Telangana
7	Jodhpur	Rajasthan
8	Kangra	Himachal Pradesh
9	Kannur	Kerala
10	Kolkata	West Bengal
11	Mumbai	Maharashtra
12	New Delhi	Delhi
13	Patna	Bihar
14	Raebareli	Uttar Pradesh
15	Shillong	Meghalaya
16	Srinagar	Jammu & Kashmir

In view of the recent trends of apparels and costumes, and based on the feasibility study conducted by NIFT, the following Under Graduate Programmes will be introduced by NIFT at its existing two NIFT campuses from academic session 2020-21.

       NIFT Shillong

             1) Bachelor of Design (Textile Design)

             2) Bachelor of Design (Fashion Communication)

       NIFT Bhopal

          1) Bachelor of Design (Fashion Communication)

2) Bachelor of Design (Fashion Design)

3) Bachelor of Fashion Technology (Apparel Production)

The above programmes will be in addition to the existing programmes already running at these campuses.

INTEGRATED TEXTILE PARKS

The Government is implementing the Scheme for Integrated Textile Park (SITP) which provides support for creation of world-class infrastructure facilities for setting up of textile units, with a Government of India grant up to 40% of the project cost subject to a ceiling of Rs. 40 crore.  However, Government of India grant is up to 90% of the project cost for first two projects (each) in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir with ceiling of Rs. 40 crore for each textile park.

The Scheme is demand driven. A total of 59 textile parks have been sanctioned under SITP by the Ministry of Textiles out of which 22 textile parks have been completed and rest are under various stages of construction. The details are given below:

S.No.	Name of the Park	Location	State
1	Islampur Integrated Textile Park	Islampur	Maharashtra
2	Latur Integrated Textile park	Latur	Maharashtra
3	Amitara Green Hi-tech Textile Park	Ahmedabad	Gujarat
4	Karanj Textile Park	Surat	Gujarat
5	Shahlon Textile Park	Surat	Gujarat
6	Palsana Textile Park	Surat	Gujarat
7	Shanti Integrated Textile Park	Surat	Gujarat
8	Satyaraj Integrated Textile Park	Ichalkaranji	Maharashtra
9	Dhule Textile Park	Dhule	Maharashtra
10	Shree Ganesh Integrated Textile Park	Dhule	Maharashtra
11	Aalishan Eco Textile Park	Panipat	Haryana
12	Guntur Textile Park	Guntur	Andhra Pradesh
13	Tarakeaswara Textile Park	Nellore	Andhra Pradesh
14	Brandix India Apparel City Private Limited	Vishakhapatnam	Andhra Pradesh
15	Gujarat Eco Textile Park Limited,	Surat	Gujarat
16	Mundra SEZ Textile & Apparel Park Limited,	Kutch	Gujarat
17	Fairdeal Textile Park Pvt. Ltd.,	Surat	Gujarat
18	Vraj Integrated Textile Park Limited ,	Ahmadabad	Gujarat
19	Sayana Textile Park Ltd.,	Surat	Gujarat
20	Doddabalapur Integrated Textile Park,	Doddabalapur	Karnataka
21	Metro Hi-Tech Cooperative Park Limited,	Icchalkaranji,	Maharashtra
22	Pride India cooperative Textile park Limited,	Icchalkaranji,	Maharashtra
23	Baramati Hi Tech Textile Park Limited,	Baramati,	Maharashtra
24	Purna Global Textiles Park Ltd.	Hingoli	Maharashtra
25	Lotus Integrated Tex Park	Barnala,	Punjab
26	Rhythm Textile & Apparel Park Ltd,	Nawanshehar,	Punjab
27	Ludhiana Integrated Textile Park Ltd,	Ludhiana	Punjab
28	Kishangarh Hi-Tech Textile Weaving Park Limited ,	Kishangarh,	Rajasthan
29	Next Gen Textile Park Pvt Ltd ,	Pali,	Rajasthan
30	Jaipur Integrated Texcraft Park Pvt Ltd,	Jaipur,	Rajasthan
31	Palladam Hi-Tech Weaving park,	Palladam,	Tamilnadu
32	Komarapalayam Hi-Tech Weaving Park Ltd. ,	Komalarapallyam,	Tamilnadu.
33	Karur Integrated Textile Park,	Karur Park	Tamilnadu
34	Madurai Integrated Textile Park Ltd,	Madurai,	Tamilnadu
35	The Great Indian Linen & Textile Infrastructure Company, Uthukuli,	Tirupur District	Tamil Nadu
36	Pochampally Handloom Park Limited,	Bhuvangiri	Telangana
37	White Gold Textile Park,	Rangareddy	Andhra Pradesh
38	Hosiery Park	Howrah	West Bengal
39	Prag Jyoti Textile Park	Darang	Assam
40	Hindupur Vyapar Apparel Park Limited	Ananatpuram	Andhra Pradesh
41	MAS Fabric Park (India Ltd	Nellore	Andhra Pradesh
42	Surat Super Yarn Park Limited,	Surat	Gujarat
43	Kejriwal Integrated Textile Park,	Surat	Gujarat
44	J&K Textile Park,	Kathua	J&K
45	Gulbarga Textile Park,	Gulbarga	Karnataka
46	SIMA Textile Processing Centre,	Cuddalore,	Tamilnadu
47	EIGMEF Apparel Park Ltd.,	Kolkata	West Bengal
48	Asmeeta Infratech Ltd.	Thane	Maharashtra
49	Deesan Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd.	Dhule	Maharashtra
50	RJD Integrated Textile Park Pvt. Ltd.	Surat	Gujarat
51	Kashmir Wool and Silk Textile Park	Ghatti	J&K
52	Farrukhabad Textile Park	Farukkhabad	Uttar Pradesh
53	Eco-Tex Textile Park	Bareily	Uttar Pradesh
54	NSP Infrastruture Pvt. Ltd	Surat	Gujarat
55	Hinganghat Integrated Textile Park	Vidharbha	Maharashtra
56	Pallavada Technical Textiles Park Pvt	Erode	Tamilnadu
57	Himachal Textile Park	Una	Himachal Pradesh
58	Kancheepuram Perarignar Anna Silk Park.	Kanchipuram	Tamilnadu
59	Kalapana Awade Textile Park	Kolhapur	Maharashtra

Two textile parks have been sanctioned in Uttar Pradesh so far, under the Scheme:

Sr. No.	Name of the Park	Location	Year of sanction	GOI grant (in Rs. Crore)	Status
1	Farrukhabad Textile Park	Farrukhabad	2016	40.00	Sanctioned
2	Eco-Tex Textile Park	Bareilly	2015	40.00	Sanctioned

CAPACITY BUILDING IN TEXTILE SECTOR

The Government has approved a skill development scheme titled SAMARTH, a Scheme for Capacity Building in Textile Sector, covering the entire value chain of the textile sector, excluding Spinning and Weaving in the organized sector, on pan India basis, including the state of Tripura, for a period of three years from 2017-18 to 2019-20, with an outlay of Rs.1300 crore to train 10 lakh persons. The salient features of the scheme are:

1. Training programmes are aligned with the provisions of Common Norms and courses offered under the scheme are National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) compliant.
2. Web based MIS for ease of implementation and monitoring.

• (iii) Physical verification of Training Centres before allocation of training target.
• (iv) 70% mandatory placement within 3 months of completion of training for organized sector.

1. Training by certified Trainers having cleared Training of Trainers (ToT) course.

• (vi) Aadhaar Enabled Biometric Attendance System (AEBAS).

1. CCTV recording of entire training programme and assessment process.
2. Post Placement tracking.

• (ix) Mobile App for different stakeholders for ease of monitoring and implementation.

1. Preference to be given to marginalized social group and aspirational districts.

• (xi) Public grievance redressal mechanism.

1. Internal Complaints Committee under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibitions & Redressal) Act, 2013.

The details of State Government agencies allocated skilling targets so far and signed Memorandum of Understanding with Ministry of Textiles for undertaking training programme under Samarth, at a function held on 14th August, 2019 in New Delhi, are given below:

S. No.	Name of Implementing Agency	State
1	Arunachal Pradesh Handloom & Handicrafts Society Lt.	Arunachal Pradesh
2	Indian Institute of Handloom Technology, Kannur	Kerala
3	Handloom & Handicrafts Wing, Directorate of Commerce & Industries	Mizoram
4	Handloom & Textiles	Tamil Nadu
5	Telangana State Textile Complex Cooperative Society	Telangana
6	U P Industrial Cooperative Association Ltd	Uttar Pradesh
7	Khadi Village Industries Board (UPKVIB)	Uttar Pradesh
8	Institute of Entrepreneurship Development, Kanpur	Uttar Pradesh
9	Uttarakhand Skill Development Society, Dehradun	Uttarakhand
10	Director of Handlooms & Textiles-Andhra Pradesh	Andhra Pradesh
11	Assam Skill Development Mission	Assam
12	Handloom Textiles & Sericulture Department	Assam
13	Madhya Pradesh Laghu Udyog Nigam	Madhya Pradesh
14	Directorate of Skill Development	Tripura
15	Karnataka State Textile Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited	Karnataka
16	Department of Textiles, Commerce & Industry, Directorate of Handlooms & Textiles, Government of Manipur	Manipur
17	Directorate of Industries & Commerce	Haryana
18	Directorate of Sericulture & Weaving	Meghalaya
19	Directorate of Handloom, Sericulture & handicraft	Jharkhand
20.	Jammu & Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute*	Jammu & Kashmir*
21.	Institute of Entrepreneurship Development Odisha*	Odisha*

*MoU has not been signed yet.

The Ministry has allocated over 4 lakh skilling targets in organised and traditional sectors to Government agencies in 18 States and skilling targets in traditional sector to Sectoral Organisations of Ministry of Textiles (Central Silk Board, Development Commissioner of Handicrafts, Development Commissioner of Handloom and National Jute Board) for commencing the training programme under the scheme. Process of empanelment and training target allocation to textile industry/industry association has also commenced as per the scheme guidelines.

The details of amount allocated and utilized since the inception of the Samarth scheme are given below:

Year	Fund allocated (Rs. in crore)	Fund utilised (Rs. in crore)
2017-18	100.00	100.00
2018-19	42.00	16.98
2019-20 (as on date)	100.50	17.39
Total	242.50	134.37

A web based centralised Management Information System (MIS) has been operationalized for monitoring of all aspects of the implementation of the training programme under the scheme. All aspects of the training programme viz. proposal for empanelling of implementing partners, training centre verification, trainee enrolment, Aadhaar Enabled Biometric Attendance System, Assessment & Certification, placement & tracking of trainees and payment to implementing partners are interfaced with the web based MIS of Samarth.

Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL)

On 6th March 2019, Cabinet approved a Scheme for Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) to enhance competitiveness of apparel and made-ups exports. Rebate of Taxes/levies was approved through an IT driven script system at notified rates up to 31.03.2020.

POWERTEX INDIA

Under Powertex India 4797 looms have been upgraded under the in-situ Upgradation Scheme for Plain Powerloom and Rs.44.98 crores have been released. In the Group Workshed Scheme 141 projects have been approved and Rs. 7.64 crores have been released. In the Yarn Bank Scheme 8 projects have been approved and Rs.5.27 crores have been released. 12 Buyers Seller Meet organized at a cost of Rs.1.35 crores. Nineteen Powerloom Service Centres have been set up at a cost of Rs.4.58 crores.

GROWTH OF SILK PRODUCTION

Integrated Scheme for Development of the Silk Industry

For the development of the Indian silk industry patents have been obtained for 5 technology packages, 50 research projects have been concluded and 55 technology packages disseminated. 13885 persons have been trained under various programmes organized by the Research & Training institutes of Central Silk Board (CSB).

The total raw silk production has increased by 11% (35,468 MT) during 2018-19 over the previous year 2017-18 (31,906 MT). The bivoltine raw silk production achieved a record production of 6,987 MT during 2018-19 by registering 18.95% growth over previous year. Raw silk yield per hectare has increased to 105 kg during 2018-19 compared to 96 kg during 2014-15

The Textiles Ministry has taken various steps through the Central Silk Board (CSB) to protect the interest of the silk producers.

CSB through a restructured Central Sector Scheme Silk Samagra and 38 projects under North East Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS) protects the interests of the farmers by supporting them through beneficiary oriented components like raising of kisan nursery, plantation with improved mulberry varieties, irrigation, chawki rearing centres with incubation facility, construction of rearing houses, rearing equipment and door to door service agents for disinfection. 42,026 beneficiaries have been covered. Mulberry plantation in 32,552 acres have been developed. Raw silk production in the North East region has increased from 4,602 MT in 2013-14 to 7,482 MT 2018-19 with total increase from 17% to 22% of India’s total production. It has generated employment for the tribal communities and also created sustainable livelihood for them. The positive impact of this is reflected in significant increase in Disease Free Layings (dfls) consumption, cocoon production, raw silk production besides increase in income from sericulture and its share in the total annual family income.

Strengthened Research & Development system to improve the levels of cocoon production and productivity to develop improved mulberry/host plant varieties, silkworm hybrids and technology packages to minimize drudgery.

For production of 3A-4A grade raw silk from the bivoltine cocoons, Automatic Reeling Machines (ARM) have been established in the country.

Central Silk Board and State Governments mobilize additional funds for sericulture development through convergence by availing the schemes such as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) being implemented by various other Ministries of Government of India.

The basic customs duty of 10% & 20% is levied on raw silk and silk fabric import respectively. This makes the domestic silk weaving market segment stronger and also makes Indian silk export sector highly competitive.

The Jute and Jute textile industry:

The jute industry occupies an important place in the economy of India and is one of the major industries in the eastern region, particularly in West Bengal. Jute, the golden fibre, meets all the standards for safe packaging in view of being a natural, renewable, biodegradable and eco-friendly product. It is estimated that the jute industry provides direct employment to 0.37 million workers in organized mill and in diversified units and supports the livelihood of around 4.0 million farm families.

Development of Jute Sector

For the welfare of jute farmers the JUTE – ICARE (Improved Cultivation and Advanced Retting Exercise) has been launched to promote scientific practices related to Jute Cultivation for Quality & Quantity improvements. In order to facilitate modernization and up-gradation of technology in existing/ new jute mills and JDP units an incentive Scheme for Acquisition of Select Machinery (ISAPM) has been launched.

In order to facilitate registered jute exporters for participating in foreign fairs/BSMs and Trade delegations to enhance exports of jute products an Export Market Development Assistance Scheme (EMDA) has been launched. To support jute entrepreneurs to display and promote jute diversified products through retail outlets in Metro cities, State Capitals and tourist places Retail Outlet of Jute Diversified Products and Bulk Supply Scheme has been put in place.

In order to provide assistance to the jute mills by supporting construction cost for toilet blocks for the jute mill workers a Workers’ Welfare Scheme (Sulabh Sauchalaya) has been implemented. Incentives are being given to successful 10th & 12th class girl children of workers of Jute Mills / MSMEs in order to provide education support.

To create new/ skilled work force for production of value added JDPs, to provide self-employment opportunity and facilitate backward and forward linkage to the existing and new entrepreneurs the Jute Integrated Development Scheme (JIDS) has been launched. To supply jute raw materials to MSMEs Units and artisans at mill gate price plus actual transportation cost the Jute Raw Material Bank (JRMB) scheme has been put in place.

In order to promote the Indian Jute Industry, the Government has set up the Indian Jute Industries’ Research Association (IJIRA). A variety of research activities has been undertaken by IJIRA for enabling faster retting of jute plant, softening of hard root cuttings of jute and eco-  friendly oil-free processing of jute.

In the field of product development IJIRA has developed light-weight jute bag, Jute Geotextiles for construction of rural roads, Jute-thermoplastic composites and Bio-degradable laminates for jute cloth. IJIRA has also developed high-end products like jute-based air filter media, valuable chemicals from jute stick and process waste and jute-based sanitary napkins. In the field of machinery development, IJIRA has developed high-speed roller drafting machine and Continuous damping-calendaring-cutting machine.

COMPREHENSIVE HANDLOOM DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

The Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) is targeted at development of Mega Handloom Clusters in clearly identifiable geographical locations covering at least 15000 handlooms with the Government of India contributing up to Rs.40 crore per cluster over a period of 5 years. Components such as conducting diagnostic study and corpus for raw material are fully funded by the Government of India whereas components like lighting units, technological up-gradation of looms and accessories are 90% funded by the Government of India.  Other components such as creation of infrastructure for design studio/ marketing complex/garmenting unit, marketing development, assistance for exports and publicity are 80% funded by the Government of India.

Eight Mega Handloom Clusters viz. Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), Sivasagar (Assam), Virudhunagar (Tamil Nadu), Murshidabad (West Bengal), Prakasam and Guntur districts (Andhra Pradesh), Godda & neighbouring districts (Jharkhand), Bhagalpur (Bihar) and Trichy (Tamil Nadu) have been taken up for development. Under the CHCDS, around 1.75 lakh handloom weavers have been covered for which Rs. 131.91 crore has been released for various interventions during the last four financial years and the current financial year.

Furthermore, under National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP), based on the viable proposals received from the State Governments, 294 Block Level Clusters (BLCs) have been sanctioned in the country covering around 1.6 lakh handloom weavers for which Rs. 165.99 crore has been released for various interventions during the last four financial years and the current financial year.

Under the MUDRA scheme loans were sanctioned to 35952 weavers with a total disbursement of Rs 181.68 crore. 8611 handloom workers have been provided skill upgradation training. 7417 Hathkargha Samvardhan Sahayata (HSS) items have been distributed to 7285 beneficiaries.

Financial Assistance of Rs 38.77 crores has been provided to 34 aspirational districts for handloom development. Hastkala Sahyog Shivirs are being organized throughout the country to spread awareness about various schemes and benefits available to the Artisans and Weavers. In order to enhance the weavers’ income, direct interface of textile companies are being developed with handloom clusters. Producer companies of handloom weavers, societies and SHGs are being formed under the Companies Act.

MODERNIZATION OF HANDLOOMS

In 2018-19, 29.93 lakh bales have been imported and 42.83 lakh bales exported up to 31.01.2019 as per Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS), Kolkata. Cotton balance sheet including quantity of import and export as finalized by the Cotton Advisory Board (CAB) for last 3 years are as under:

(Quantity in lakh bales of 170 Kgs)
Crop Year	Opening stock	Production	Import	Consumption	Export	Closing stock
2016-17	36.44	345.00	30.94	310.41	58.21	43.76
2017-18	43.76	370.00	15.80	3019.06	67.59	42.91
2018-19 (P)	42.91	337.00	22.00	311.50	50.00	40.41

Taking into account demand and supply situation in the country, as per above statement, there is sufficient availability of cotton in the country.

Ministry of Textiles has been implementing – (i) Yarn Supply Scheme throughout the country to make available all types of yarn at mill gate price to handloom weavers. The scheme is being implemented through National Handloom Development Corporation.  Under the Scheme freight is reimbursed and depot operating charges at 2% is given to depot operating agencies.  For Handlooms, a component of 10% price subsidy also exists on hank yarn, which is applicable on cotton, domestic silk, wool and linen yarn with quantity caps.

(ii) In Power loom sector, Yarn Bank Scheme provides interest free corpus fund of up to Rs.2.00 crores to Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)/ Consortium of Power loom weavers to enable them to purchase yarn at wholesale rate and give the yarn at reasonable price to the small weavers. 89 Yarn banks are in operation on pan India basis involving interest free corpus fund of Rs.26.17 crores of Government of India. There is no scarcity of supply of yarn to the Power loom weavers.

The Government of India, Ministry of Textiles has been implementing Block Level Cluster under National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP) and Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) for providing skill upgradation training in Weaving, Dyeing, Designing. disciplines and also provide upgraded looms/ accessories to handloom weavers to improve quality of fabric and enhance productivity.    Total 436 Block Level Clusters have been sanctioned from 2015-16 to 2019-20 (till 18.11.2019) under NHDP/CHCDS covering 303366 beneficiaries across the country out of this, 52 BLCs have been sanctioned to Tamil Nadu covering 58268 beneficiaries.

For welfare of the handloom weavers, life & accident insurance coverage is provided to handloom weavers/ workers enrolled under the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and converged Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana (MGBBY) across the country.  The details of benefits and total annual premium, share i.e. Government of India, LIC and Weavers/ Workers under PMJJBY/ PMSBY & converged MGGBY under Handloom Weavers Comprehensive Welfare Scheme is as under:

Scheme components	Age group	Insurance coverage	Benefits (in Rs.)	Annual premium
Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY)	18- 50 years	Natural Death	2,00,000	Rs.330/-   GoI share – Rs.150/- LIC share –  Rs.100/- Weaver/worker – Rs.80/-
		Accidental Death	2,00,000
Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY)	18- 50 years	Accidental Death	2,00,000	Rs.12/- entirely borne by Government of India (GoI)
		Total Disability	2,00,000
		Partial Disability	1,00,000
Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana (MGBBY)	51- 59 years	Natural Death	60,000	Rs.470/-   GoI share – Rs.290/- LIC share –  Rs.100/- Weaver/worker – Rs.80/-
		Accidental Death	1,50,000
		Total Disability	1,50,000
		Partial    Disability	75,000

Ministry of Textiles has signed Memorandums of Understanding with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) to secure educational facilities for the weavers and their families.  NIOS offers Secondary and Senior Secondary level education with specialized subjects on design, marketing, business development, etc. through distance learning mode for handloom weavers, whereas IGNOU offers continuing education programs through accessible and flexible learning opportunities relevant to the aspirations of handloom weavers and their children for career progression. Ministry of Textiles is providing reimbursement of 75% of the fee towards admission to NIOS/IGNOU courses in case of SC, ST, BPL, and Women learners belonging to handloom weavers’ families.

UPLIFTMENT OF HANDICRAFTS

For the upliftment of the handicrafts sector financial assistance is provided to handicrafts artisans under Direct Benefit to Artisans under following schemes of Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles:

(i) Mudra Loan with Interest Subvention & Margin Money for Handicrafts Artisans:

Under Mudra Loan assistance is provided to artisans/weavers with Interest subvention of 6 % for a period of 3 years to a maximum limit of Rs.100000 to meet their credit requirements. Further to encourage the artisans to avail the facility of MUDRA loan, 20% of loan amount is also being provided as margin money in their loan amount not exceeding Rs. 10,000. Handicrafts Service Centers are facilitating artisans in availing the credit facility by mobilizing them, creating awareness and submitting applications to the Banks.

(ii) Support to Artisans in Indigent Circumstances (Pension Scheme):

This scheme provides financial assistance to artisans who are the recipient of Shilp Guru Award/ National Award/ Nation Merit Certificate holders/ State Award in handicrafts and are not less than 60 years of age having annual income less then Rs. 50,000. Financial assistance of Rs. 3,500 per month is given to Master Craftsperson in indigent circumstances.

(iii) Insurance Scheme for Handicrafts Artisans:

Handicrafts artisans /workers in the age group of 18-50 years are being provided life, accident and disability cover under the PMJJBY and PMSBY. Handicrafts artisans /workers in the age group of 5l-59 years already enrolled under the Aam Admi Bima Yojana (AABY) are covered under the Converged Modified Aam Admi Bima Yojana (Converged AABY).

(iv) MoU with NIOS and IGNOU:

MoUs have been signed between Ministry of Textiles and National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). Another MoU has been signed between Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) for collaboration in the area of education for handicrafts artisans and their children wherein reimbursement of 75% of the fee for SC/ST/BPL and the women artisans is being made. In the MoU there is provision for designing courses exclusively for the handicrafts artisans and their children. Accordingly, NIOS has been sanctioned 15 training programme in Zari Zardozi craft in the Varanasi region under the component of Training through Established Institutions of Human Resource Development Scheme. So far, 99 Scheduled Caste artisans have completed training and are practicing the craft at present with enhanced earning.

The Ministry of Textiles implements various schemes for promotion and development of handicrafts sector under National Handicrafts Development Programme (NHDP) and Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS).

The NHDP has following components:

1. Base Line Survey & Mobilization of Artisans under Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojana,
2. Design & Technology Up gradation,
3. Human Resource Development,
4. Direct Benefit to Artisans,
5. Infrastructure and Technology Support,
6. Research and Development,
7. Marketing Support & Services.

The CHCDS has following components: 

1. Mega Cluster
2. Special projects under Integrated Development and Promotion of Handicrafts (IDPH).

The Government has taken initiative to implement cluster development project under Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojna (AHVY) for the overall development of artisans in Uttar Pradesh. 62 clusters have been sanctioned during last three years in Uttar Pradesh where 31000 artisans have benefitted. The Government has taken initiative under CHCDS, whereas 4 handicrafts mega cluster at Mirzapur -Bhadhoi, Moradabad, Bareilly & Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh have been sanctioned. Twenty-one New Block Level Clusters have been sanctioned.

Under PAHCHAN initiative, 23.68 lakh artisans have been provided Identity Cards up to March 31st 2019. 50000 new artisans will be enrolled under PAHCHAN initiative. 309 Handicrafts training programmes have been proposed under HRD scheme to benefit 7600 artisans directly.

In order to promote India’s handicrafts 5754 Improved tool kits have been distributed and 2000 Toolkits will be distributed under Design and Technical Upgradation scheme. 327 Handicrafts Training programmes have been organised to benefit 6720 artisans directly.

63 Domestic and 54 International Marketing events have been organized to benefit 12075 artisans directly. 190 Domestic and 80 International Marketing events have been proposed in the year 2019-20.

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An inaugural Trial-Run of Indian Railways (IR) freight train on the newly built Rewari-Madar section of Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC), covering a distance of about 306 kms (Total 663 track Km) was conducted today (i.e. 27.12.2019). The trial run was flagged off from New Kishangarh Station by Station Sr. Executive Sh. Ravindra Sharma in the presence of Sh. Anurag Sachan, Managing Director, Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation India Limited (DFCCIL).

The Rewari-Madar section is in Haryana State (for approximately 79 Km in Mahendragarh & Rewari districts) and Rajasthan State (for approximately 227 Km in Jaipur, Ajmer, Sikar, Nagaur & Alwar districts). This section contains 16 major bridges and viaduct (1 viaduct & 15 major bridges), 270 minor bridges, 4 Rail Fly Overs, 19 Road Over Bridges (11 completed and 8 under construction) & 178 Road Under Bridges eliminating 148 Level crossings. There are 9 newly built DFC stations in this section, six crossing stations (i.e. New Dabla, New Bhagega, New Sri Madhopur, New Pachar Malikpur, New Sakun and New Kishangarh) and three junction stations (i.e. New Rewari, New Ateli and New Phulera).

DFCCIL will run freight trains at the maximum speed of 100 Kmph hour as against the current maximum speed of 75 kmph on Indian Railway tracks whereas the average speed of freight trains will also be increased from existing speed of 26 kmph on Indian Railways lines to 70 kmph on Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC).

Cost

Total cost of works on this section is Rs. 3918 Crore, excluding land.

Industrial Areas likely to benefit

The opening of this stretch will benefit various industries in Rewari – Manesar, Narnaul, Phulera & Kishangarh areas of Rajasthan & Haryana. In addition to this, the container depot of CONCOR at Kathwas will also come on DFC map and get advantage in terms of faster throughput.

Highpoints

• Heavy haul train operation with 32.5 Ton axle load has been envisaged for the first time in India (currently practiced only in USA, Canada, Brazil, Australia, China, Russia South-Africa and Sweden-Norway)
• Double stack containers
• Double line electric (2 X 25 KV) track to undertake higher haulage at higher speeds
• Automated New Track Construction (NTC) machine with record single day track laying of more than 3 km.
• More Powerful Locomotives 7000 kW (9000 HP) CO-CO 6 axles
• High rise Over Head Equipment (OHE) of 7.4 meter height (existing IR OHE 5.5 m) for double stack container movement on flat wagons
• Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS) for safe and efficient operation
• Elimination of road crossing
• Connecting Multi Modal Logistic Hubs and Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor
• Water Conservation through Rainwater harvesting in all the stations and RUBs (road under bridge)
• Reduced Energy Consumption using latest technology
• Recycling and Re-use – Construction materials and Waste management
• Green Initiatives – developed as “Low Carbon & Energy Efficient Green Transportation” with reduce GHG emissions w.r.t. freight transportation by existing rail and road system
• Exclusive operation for freight trains.

After having successfully run Track Recording Car of RDSO on 20th and 22nd October 2019 and Oscillation trials of BOXNS Wagons at 110 Kmph, trial runs are being conducted on the DFCCIL tracks. These wagons have a Tare weight i.e. own weight of 19.85 ton and a carrying capacity of 80.15 ton. These wagons have 14% more weight carrying capacity than the wagons being currently used on Indian Railways. The DFCCIL infrastructure is well placed to utilise the carrying capacity of these wagons. Currently, Indian Railways freight trains can carry 61 -71 ton weight per wagon at an approximate speed of 60 kmph. The newer, advanced wagons can carry weights upto 81 ton per wagon at an approximate speed of 100 kmph. The newer wagons are safer and modern too.

Trial runs of BLCS-A and BLCS-B wagon prototype have also ensued. These wagons have enhanced axle load of 25 ton and been designed for DFCCIL by RDSO’s wagon department. The design will maximize capacity utilization and uniform distributed and point loading. These wagons on a long-haul double stack container train on the WDFC can carry 4 times in terms of container units compared to the current traffic on Indian Railways.

 

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The BPCL LPG Bottling plant at Balangir, Odisha was dedicated to the nation today by Prof Ganeshi Lal, Governor, Odisha in the presence of Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel. Shri. Arun Kumar Sahoo, Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Empowerment, Govt. Of Odisha, Smt.Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo, Member of Parliament, Balangir &Shri Narasingha Mishra, Member of Legislative Assembly, Balangir and dignitaries from the state and officials of BPCL were also present.

Initially, the BPCL LPG plant was to be dedicated to the nation by Shri. M. Venkiah Naidu, Hon’ble Vice President of India. He had come  upto Raipur but could not make it to Balangir due to bad weather conditions today. In his audio messagewhich was played, the Hon’ble Vice President complimented Bharat Petrolum for completing the state-of-the-art LPG plant at Balangir within record 19 months, three months ahead of schedule. With the commissioning of the LPG Plant at Balangir, he said, people of the region would be supplied with hassle-free cylinders from now.

The foundation stone of Balangir LPG Bottling Plant was laid on 21^st May 2018 by Shri. Dharmendra Pradhan, the then Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas &Skill Development,  Mr. Thaawar Chand Gehlot, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India and Mr. K. V. Singh Deo, MLA, Patnagarh.This plant has been completed in a record 19 months period, at a total project cost of     Rs. 103 Crores.

 

 

Addressing the gathering, Shri. Dharmendra Pradhan said that there were only 13.20 crore LPG consumers in the countrytill 2014, and now the number has crossed 27 crores and in Odisha it has crossed 80 lakhs. This new plant will benefit 14 districtsin the western part of the state. More than 150 trucks will be engaged in supply of LPG cylinders to different parts of the region, generatingmore than 500 direct and indirect employment. He further said that this plant will bring economic prosperity to the region.He further thanked Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi for his special focus on the development of Balangir which is also an aspirational district.

 

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), a Maharatna PSU under the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas,has set up thisnew LPG Bottling Plant at Village Barkani,District Balangir in Odisha State. BPCL is already having a LPG Bottling Plant at Khurda in the State of Odisha. The Oil Marketing Companies are having LPG Bottling Plants at Balasore, Jharsuguda, Khurda and Jatni. In addition to thisLPG Bottling Plant at Balangir, Oil Marketing Companies have plans to set up new plants at Khurda and Rayagada. Odisha will have a total of 7 LPG Bottling Plants once all the new plants are completed. The bottling capacity of these 7 bottling plants will be 4.06 crores cylinders per annum.

 

YB/SK

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