New Delhi: Under Narendra Modi government’s historic ‘Support and Outreach 100 days’ programme, the ministry of textiles will hold interactions with the stakeholders of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to help them avail the facilities of the NDA government’s scheme.

The ministry of textiles is organising an outreach programme for the textiles sector’s MSMEs on Wednesday in New Delhi. Minister of social justice and empowerment Dr Thawar Chand Gehlot, minister of textiles Smriti Irani and minister of state for textiles Ajay Tamta will be present.

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Prime Minister Modi had launched the ‘Support and Outreach 100 days’ programme for MSMEs on November 2, 2018, identifying one hundred districts in various sectors across the country. Amongst these, 39 districts were identified for textiles sector - 12 for handloom, 19 for handicraft and 8 for power loom.

Under the programme, various activities have been undertaken in identified districts for creating synergy for MSMEs in textile sector like holding camps for Mudra loan in collaboration with local bank, enrolment of beneficiaries on e-dhaga, distribution of tool kits to beneficiaries, registration and distribution of Pehchancard to artisans and weavers, popularization of 24x7 help line, quality certification and social security.

With a view to consolidate progress under the programme, district level events were organised in each identified district on February 9 and 10. Further exhibition of handloom, handicraft and powerloom products were also organised in the state bhavans of the identified districts in Delhi on February 11 and 12.

Over 75 % of the garment industry in India is in the MSME sector and the twelve initiatives covered in the package would benefit most units in the industry. The two per cent interest subvention for new loans, two per cent additional subvention for export credits and clearance of loans up to Rs. 1crore within 59 minutes would help the India's garment industry to address working capital problems. Credit based on upcoming receivables under e-discounting system is another welcome step in this direction.

Benefits to the ministry of textiles include helping youth with skills in textile sector, thus, providing requisite skilled manpower to the textile industry.

The various announcements and deliverables focused on access to credit, access to market, hand holding and facilitation support measures for MSME sector will substantially encourage and uplift the Indian textile segment, as most of the manufacturing units of this segment are MSMEs. The MSME focused outreach programme will give boost to the MMF textile manufacturing units in textile hubs like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.

The initiatives taken under the MSME outreach programme will provide a much-needed fillip and encouragement to the MSME sector which contributes significantly to the textiles exports.