Lok Sabha Question No. 1124 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-28
Subject: Impact of Automation on Employment in the Textile Secto
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Mohanbhai Kalyanji Kundariya

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1124 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.6.2019

## IMPACT OF AUTOMATION ON EMPLOYMENT IN THE TEXTILE SECTOR

## 1124.    SHRI MOHANBHAI  KALYANJI  KUNDARIYA:

Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंरी be pleased to state:

- a) whether any study has been undertaken by the Government to assess the impact of automation on employment in the textile sector;
- b) if so, the details thereof;
- c) Whether  the  Government  will  intervene  to  protect  the  jobs  in  the  labour  intensive industry of textiles and create new employment opportunities for those who have lost jobs on account of automation;
- d) if so, the details thereof; and
- e) if not, the reasons thereof?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER वस्त्र मंरी ( श्रीमती स्मृ तत ज़ूबिन इरानी )

MINISTER OF TEXTILES (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) to (e): Although it is a common perception that increased automation in the textile sector may result in reduction of employment in the textile units, this is not always true. Major new advances  in  technology,  while  possibly  disruptive,  are  not  on  course  to  create  major  overall unemployment in the near future.

With a view to boost textile sector in the country and also to create employment in the textiles and apparel sector, Government is implementing several important schemes, some of which are;

- i. SAMARTH : Scheme for skill development and capacity in textile sector targeting 10 lakhs  beneficiaries  covering  textiles,  apparel,  handloom,  handicrafts,  skill  and  jute segments.
- ii. Knitting and Knitwear Sector: In order to boost production in knitting and knitwear clusters, Government has launched a separate scheme for development of Knitting and Knitwear Sector which will provide employment to nearly 24 lakh persons.
- iii. Government  is  implementing  Amended  Technology  Up-gradation  Fund  Scheme (ATUFS)  for  technology  up-gradation  of  the  textile  industry  with  an  outlay  of Rs.17,822 crore during 2016-2022. It is expected to attract investment of Rs.1 lakh crore and generate 35.62 lakhs employment in the textile sector by 2022.
- iv. Government  has  launched  a  special  package  of  Rs.6000  crore  in  2016  to  boost investment, employment and exports in the garmenting and made-ups sector with the following components viz., (i) full refund is provided under Remission of State Levies (ROSL)  to  the  exporters  for  the  State  level  taxes;  (ii)  production  linked  additional incentive  of  10%  is  provided  under  the  Amended  Technology  Up-gradation  Fund Scheme (ATUFS).
- v. Scheme for Integrated Textile Park (SITP): Government provides 40% subsidy with a celling limit of Rs. 40 crore for setting up textiles parks for infrastructure creation and additional job generation.
- vi. National  Handloom  Development  Programme,  Comprehensive  Handloom  Cluster Development Scheme, Handloom  Weaver Comprehensive Welfare Scheme and Yarn Supply Schemes for basic inputs, looms and accessories, design and development, infrastructure development, marketing of handloom products, etc.
- vii. National Handicrafts Development Programme (NHDP) and Comprehensive Handicraft Cluster Development Schemes aim at holistic development of handicrafts clusters through integrated approach by providing support on design, technology upgradation, infrastructure development, market support etc.
- viii. PowerTex  India:  A  comprehensive  scheme  for  powerloom  sector  with  components relating  to  powerloom  up-gradation,  infrastructure  creation,  concessional  access  to credit, etc.
- ix. Silk  Samagra  -  An  integrated  Scheme  for  development  of  silk  industry  with components of research & development, transfer of technology, seed organization and coordination, market development, quality certification and export.
- x. Jute ICARE for increasing the income of farmers by at least 50% through promotion of  certified  seeds,  better  agronomic  practices  and  use  of  microbial  re-using  of  Jute plant.
- xi. Integrated  Wool  Development  Programme  for  growth  of  wool  sector  by  way  of machine  sheep  shearing,  strengthening  of  wool  market  and  processing  and 3oollen product manufacturing.
- xii. North  East  Region  Textile  Promotion  Scheme  (NERTPS)  for  promoting  textiles industry  in  the  NER  by  providing  infrastructure,  capacity  building  and  marketing support to all segments of textile industry.
- xiii. Rebate  of  State and  Central  Taxes  and  Levies  (RoSCTL)-  providing  the  full employer's contribution of 12% of the employment Provident Fund (EPF)  under the Pradhan Mantri Paridhan Rojgar Protsahan Yojana (PMPRPY).
- xiv. Integrated  Skill  Development  Scheme  (ISDS):  Government  had  been  implementing Integrated Skill Development Scheme (ISDS) where 11.14 lakh persons were trained out of which 8.43 lakh persons were given placement.
- xv. Further,  the  Government  has  approved  a  new  scheme  viz.,  'Scheme  for  Capacity Building in Textile Sector(SCBTS)' for providing demand driven placement oriented National  Skills  Qualifications  Framework(NSQF)  compliant  skilling  programme  for the  entire  value  chain  of  textile  sector  (excluding  Spinning  and  Weaving  in  the organized sector).

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