The government is targeting to increase India’s textile market size, including domestic as well as exports, to Rs 33 lakh crore by 2030-31 from around Rs 16 lakh crore at present, Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh said on Thursday.
Addressing a press conference here to outline the textile ministry's initiatives and achievements during the current Narendra Modi-led government's tenure, Singh said efforts are underway to increase the annual income of handloom weavers to Rs 5 lakh annually by providing them training, raw material, design technology and market access. Narendra Modi became India’s longest continuously serving elected Prime Minister on Wednesday.
“We have 29 Weaving Service Centres in the handloom sector... Starting from North East's Guwahati, this model has been established in six states wherein our aim is to skill and upskill them and after training, give them the required raw material, design and technology, along with a market for clothing. Through this, our target is to increase the income of every weaver to Rs 5 lakh (annually),” the minister said.
Responding to media queries, he informed that the number of people formally employed in the textile sector increased to 5.3 crore in 2024-25, from 2.8 crore in 2014. “We increased the textile market size from Rs 8.5 lakh crore to Rs 16 lakh crore and by 2030-31, we are targeting taking it to Rs 33 lakh crore, including domestic size as well as exports,” Singh told reporters here.
He further stated that during 10 years of the Congress-led UPA government, 46.10 lakh stitching machines used in the garment sector were imported by India, whereas during the Narendra Modi-led government tenure till 2024-25, more than 2.87 crore machines were imported, which implies an increase in employment during the period as they are used by workers.
Addressing the press conference, Minister of State for Textiles Pabitra Margherita said, “The Modi government has spent Rs 2,000 crore in the handloom sector and more than Rs 1,335 crore has been spent on the handicraft sector, totalling Rs 3,335 crore, thereby benefiting millions of our stakeholders in the handloom and handicraft sector.”
The textiles and apparel sector is expected to generate nearly 2 crore additional jobs over the next three years, the minister said.
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