Lok Sabha Question No. 5110 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-24
Subject: Powerloom Industry in Maharashtra
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Shri Balya Mama Suresh Gopinath Mhatre

## POWERLOOM INDUSTRY IN MAHARASHTRA

## 5110.  SHRI BALYA MAMA SURESH GOPINATH MHATRE:

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

(a)  whether  it  has  come  to  the  notice  of  the  Government  that  after  the  COVID-19  pandemic  the powerloom  industry  in  Bhiwandi  region  of  Maharashtra  is  facing  serious  difficulties  in  recovering economically  and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether many powerloom units in Bhiwandi have not yet fully resumed operations and workers have not been able to secure stable employment and if so, the details thereof;

(c) the special assistance or relief package provided by the Central Government under the Ministry of Textiles for traditional clusters such as Bhiwandi for post-COVID recovery;

(d) whether the Government is considering introducing any new scheme for refinancing, working capital support, and workers' welfare for this industry and if so, the details thereof;

(e)  whether  Bhiwandi's  powerloom  industry  has  to  pay  higher  electricity  charges  than  neighboring States, whether the Central Government is coordinating with the State Governments to address the said issue;

(f)  the  total  number  of  workers  engaged  in  the  textile  industry  in  Bhiwandi  who  have  become unemployed or have migrated to other States during the last five years; and

(g) the details and extent to which export of textile products from Bhiwandi has declined and the  steps being  taken  to  reconnect  the  said  products  with  the  global  market  and  if  not,  the reasons therefor?

## उत्तर ANSWER

## वस्त्र मंत्री (श्री गिरििाज स ंह)

## MINISTER OF TEXTILES (SHRI GIRIRAJ SINGH)

(a) to (g): The  Government  of  India,  Ministry  of  Textiles has been  providing financial assistance and institutional support to the powerloom sector throughout the Country including Bhiwandi cluster  in  Maharashtra  in  order  to  support  the  growth,  revival,  modernization  and  sustainability  of powerloom units. The major interventions include;

- (a) Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS).
- (b) PowerTex India Scheme.
- (c) Comprehensive Powerloom Cluster Development Scheme (CPCDS).
- (d) Scheme for Integrated Textile Park (SITP)

The  Ministry  has  also  revamped  the  erstwhile  Powerloom  Service  Centres  (PSC),  including  6 PSCs  in  Maharashtra  (including  one  in  Bhiwandi),  into  Institutes  of  Textile  Design  and  Apparel Development Centres (ITADCs) with revised charter of duties and planned upgradation of facilities and manpower.  These  include  cluster-specific  facilities,  including  strengthening  of  testing  infrastructure, installation  of  modern  looms  and  preparatory  machines,  testing  instruments,  sewing  and  embroidery machines for garment and apparel development, and design development facilities.  The details of funds released in Bhiwandi Cluster (Maharashtra) under various schemes are enclosed at Annexure-A.

In the Union Budget 2026, Government has also announced an Integrated Textiles Programme which  includes  the  Textile  Expansion  and  Employment  Scheme  (TEEM)  to  modernize  traditional clusters with capital support for machinery, technology upgradation and common  testing and certification centres.

Under the Integrated and Sustainable Textile Policy 2023-28, Maharashtra is providing electricity tariff subsidy up to Rs. 3 per unit for cooperative spinning and Rs. 2 per unit for other textile units. The State of Maharashtra has developed an integrated e-Textile portal as a digital platform for registration, monitoring and delivery of policy incentives. Over 1500 textile industries have registered on the portal, with  more  than  400  units  obtaining  Maharashtra  Textile  Registration  Numbers  (MTRN).  Exports  of Textile & Apparel from Thane district including Bhiwandi increased from USD 549.3 million during FY 2024-25 (Apr-Jan) to USD 600.3 million in FY 2025-26 (Apr-Jan).

Information  regarding  labour  migration  to  other  states  or  re-operationalized  units  is not maintained by the Ministry.

## Annexure-A

Government support extended under various Central Government schemes:

| S. No   | Schemes                                            | Bhiwandi              | Bhiwandi                   |
|---------|----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------|----------------------------|
| S. No   | Schemes                                            | No of units/ Projects | Financial Assistance in Cr |
| 1       | Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS) | 297                   | 69.9                       |
| 2       | In-situ Upgradation Fund Scheme                    | 6,257                 | 56.56                      |
| 3       | Group Workshed Scheme                              | 2                     | 0.91                       |
| 4       | Yarn Banks                                         | 1                     | 0.50                       |
| 5       | Scheme for Integrated Textile Park ( SITP)         | 1                     | 40                         |

Group Insurance Scheme for Powerloom Workers in Maharashtra:-

| S. No   | Enrolment   | Death Claims   | Death Claims         | Shiksha Sahayog Yojana (SSY)   | Shiksha Sahayog Yojana (SSY)   |
|---------|-------------|----------------|----------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| S. No   | Nos         | Nos            | Financial Assistance | Nos                            | Financial Assistance           |
| 1       | 328705      | 3,148          | 15.69 Cr             | 5,539                          | 48.65 Lakhs                    |

## Powerloom Service Centres

|   S.No. | Name of Powerloom Service Centre   | District   | TXC/ Non-TxC(TRA)   |
|---------|------------------------------------|------------|---------------------|
|       1 | Nagpur                             | Nagpur     | TxC                 |
|       2 | Malegaon                           | Nashik     | TxC                 |
|       3 | Madhavnagar                        | Sangli     | BTRA                |
|       4 | Solapur                            | Solapur    | BTRA                |
|       5 | Ichalkaranji                       | Kolhapur   | BTRA                |
|       6 | Bhiwandi I                         | Thane      | SASMIRA             |