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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF TEXTILES
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-960
ANSWERED ON- 06/02/2026
SCHEMES FOR MODERNIZATION OF POWERLOOM INDUSTRY
960. SHRI IMRAN PRATAPGARHI:
Will the Minister of TEXTILES be pleased to state:
(a) whether Government is aware of the severe distress faced by the powerloom industry in clusters such as
Bhiwandi, Ichalkaranji and Malegaon, which provide livelihood to lakhs of workers, largely from the
unorganised sector;
(b) whether Government has formulated any specific, time-bound schemes for modernisation, technology
upgradation, affordable power supply, credit access and wage security for powerloom workers in these
centres;
(c) whether any funds have been allocated or released during the last three years for these clusters; and
(d) if so, the details thereof, and if not, the reasons for continued neglect of these traditional textile hubs?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES
(SHRI PABITRA MARGHERITA)
(a) to (d): A number of initiatives have been taken by the Government in order to ensure holistic
development of the entire powerloom sector of the country including that of Bhiwandi, Ichalkaranji and
Malegaon:-
(i) Comprehensive Powerloom Cluster Development Scheme(CPCDS): With an aim at holistic improvement
of existing (brownfield) powerloom clusters, Government extends financial support of a maximum of Rs. 50
crores for each approved Powerloom Mega Cluster project. The scheme has now been subsumed under
Textile Cluster Development Scheme (TCDS) and support is extended for completing ongoing projects for
meeting committed liabilities only. Under CPCDS, Ichalkaranji Powerloom Mega Cluster was sanctioned in
2012. Rs. 44.85 crore has been released to Ichalkaranji powerloom megacluster as financial support by
Government of India.
(ii) PowerTex India Scheme: In order to enhance the capacities and competitiveness of decentralized
powerloom sector, PowerTex India Scheme was launched on a Pan India basis having, an outlay of Rs. 487
crores for the period 2017-20, which was extended upto 2021. The scheme has now been subsumed under
Textile Cluster Development Scheme (TCDS) and support is extended for completing ongoing projects for
meeting committed liabilities only. Under the scheme Rs. 11.58 crore, 58.08 crore & Rs. 12.28 crore have
been released to powerloom units in Ichalkaranji cluster, Bhiwandi cluster and Malegaon cluster respectively.(iii) Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS): Under the scheme, credit linked Capital
Investment Subsidy (CIS) is provided to units located across the country for purchase of benchmarked
machinery in different segment of Textile Sectors (excluding spinning) across the value chain and across
fibers including Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and small textile manufacturing units. The
validity of the scheme was till 31.03.2022. Currently only committed liabilities are provided under this
scheme. A financial support of Rs. 262.04 crore to 1234 units has been provided in Ichalkaranji, Bhiwandi and
Malegaon under the scheme.
(iv) Textile Cluster Development Scheme (TCDS) :- Under this scheme Grant-in-aid is provided to Integrated
Textile and Apparel Development Centres (ITADCs - Erstwhile Powerloom Service Centres) of Textile
Research Associations (TRAs) and State Government. There are two ITADCs in Bhiwandi cluster and one
each in Ichalkaranji and Malegaon cluster. These ITADCs provide testing, training, technical consultancy and
troubleshooting services to the powerloom industry in these clusters. In the last three years training has been
provided to 1433 weavers in these clusters.
(v) In addition, the Government of Maharashtra is implementing the Maharashtra Technology Upgradation
Fund Scheme (MAHA_TUFS) which seeks to facilitate Powerlooms in Maharashtra including in Bhiwandi,
Ichalkaranji and Malegaon in augmenting investments, productivity, quality, employment and exports through
various incentives to the eligible units for technology upgradation as per specified guidelines.
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