Surat

The Centre on Saturday assured the textile industry that it will soon resolve the issue of pending claims under its technology upgradation scheme.

The Textile Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS) is an interest subsidy scheme for upgradation of technology as part of measures to boost textile and jute sectors.

“The textile industry has been facing issues like non-allocation of around Rs 3,000 crore to meet pending cases under TUFS, which include committed liability, left out cases and blackout period.

“I had a talk with the Finance Minister and the Prime Minister about this issue and I can assure you that the issue will be resolved soon,” Textiles Minister Santosh Gangwar told textile traders in the west Indian city of Ahmedabad.

Gangwar also suggested the industry to take up the issue with the Prime Minister.

“I will request Gujarat to give some suggestions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I met him (Modi) four days ago and spoke on the issue… he listened to me but did not give an answer. If you people will write to him, he will surely offer a solution,” he said.

He was replying to textile traders on TUFS issues including non-allocation of subsidy and delayed reimbursement at Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industries (GCCI) here.

Later while talking to businessmen at Maskati Market area, the minister faced similar queries.

“The textile industry is not getting subsidy under the scheme and there is also a delay in reimbursement as nodal agencies like banks take time in completing the process and due to non-clearance of the case, our subsidy is not sanctioned and many of the units of the industry are struggling to survive,” Ahmedabad Textile Process Association President Nitin Thakkar said.

Talking about technical textile sector, the Minister said the business of the sector is estimated at about Rs 17 lakh crore, while India’s contribution is just around one lakh crore.

“The Prime Minister keeps a tab on this sector and therefore projects of Rs 425 crore have been approved especially for the north-east states. Gujarat has the ability and the state has been making good efforts to become the hub of technical textile,” Gangwar said.

He also said China has a monopoly over textile industry and now people think that only India can counter the neighbouring country in this sector.

– PTI