Indian Economy
SAMARTH Scheme
- 22 Dec 2022
- 5 min read
For Prelims: Handloom, Integrated Skill Development Scheme, Scheme for Integrated Textile Park (SITP), Power-Tex India, Silk Samagra Scheme, Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS), National Handloom Day
For Mains: Growth & Development, Inclusive Growth
Why in News?
Under the SAMARTH Scheme of Textile Ministry, more than 13,235 artisans have been trained in the last three years.
What is the Samarth Scheme all about?
- About:
- Samarth (Scheme for Capacity Building In Textile Sector) is a flagship skill development scheme approved in continuation to the Integrated Skill Development Scheme for 12th Five Year Plan (FYP), Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs.
- The office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) is implementing the SAMARTH to provide skill training to handicraft artisans under the component ‘Skill Development in Handicrafts Sector’ of National Handicrafts Development Programme (NHDP).
- Objectives:
- To provide demand-driven, placement-oriented skilling programmes to incentivize the efforts of the industry in creating jobs in the organized textile and related sectors to promote skilling and skill up-gradation in the traditional sectors through respective sectoral divisions/organizations of the Ministry of Textile.
- To provide livelihood to all sections of the society across the country.
What is the Status of the Textile Sector in India?
- About:
- Textiles & garments industry is a labour intensive sector that employs 45 millions people in India and is second only to the agriculture sector in terms of employment.
- India’s textiles sector is one of the oldest industries in the Indian economy, and is a storehouse and carrier of traditional skills, heritage and culture.
- It can be divided into two segments:
- The unorganised sector is small scale and uses traditional tools and methods. It consists of handloom, handicrafts and sericulture (Production of silk).
- The organised sector uses modern machinery and techniques and consists of the spinning, apparel and garments segment.
- Other Schemes of the Textile Sector:
- Scheme for Integrated Textile Park (SITP): Launched in 2005, it aims to provide the industry with world-class state of the art infrastructure facilities for setting up their textile units.
- Power-Tex India: It is an all-inclusive scheme that's made for the development of the power loom sector which further addresses the unheard needs of the power loom sector.
- Silk Samagra Scheme: It focuses on improving the quality and productivity of domestic silk thereby reducing the country’s dependence on imported silk.
- Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS): It is a credit linked Capital Investment Subsidy (CIS) scheme to catalyze capital investments for technology upgradation and modernization of the textile industry.
- National Handloom Day: National Handloom Day is observed every year on 7th August to mark the importance of the handloom weaving community in India.
- National Technical Textile Mission: The mission aims to position India as a global leader in Technical Textiles by increasing the domestic market size from USD 40 billion to USD 50 billion by 2024.
Note
- On the occasion of International Women’s Day 2022, the Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), launched a Special Entrepreneurship Promotion Drive for Women -"SAMARTH".
- Through this initiative, the Ministry of MSME is focusing on providing Skill Development and Market Development Assistance to women.
UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Years Question (PYQ)
Q. Consider the following statements: (2020)
- The value of Indo-Sri Lanka trade has consistently increased in the last decade.
- “Textile and textile articles” constitute an important item of trade between India and Bangladesh.
- In the last five years, Nepal has been the largest trading partner of India in South Asia.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Ans: (b)
