Govt's Transformative Vision for Textiles Sector: Key Milestones in the First 100 Days

Numerous activities promoted handlooms, including a "Know Your Weaves" event, exhibitions, and outreach to 9,000 Delhi school students.

The Ministry of Textiles has spearheaded several initiatives as part of the government’s drive to enhance India's socio-economic progress through the textiles sector. Focusing on empowering artisans, promoting innovation, and solidifying India's position in the global textile industry, the Ministry’s efforts during the first 100 days of this government are noteworthy. Key Highlights:

 

1. 10th National Handloom Day Celebration (August 7, 2024): Celebrated nationwide, this event raised awareness about the vital role of the handloom sector in India’s economy. Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar conferred 5 Sant Kabir Handloom Awards and 17 National Handloom Awards. Numerous activities promoted handlooms, including a "Know Your Weaves" event, exhibitions, and outreach to 9,000 Delhi school students.

2. Skilling Programme in Handloom & Handicrafts Clusters: On July 27, 2024, the ‘Bunkar and Karigar Utthan Upskilling Programme’ was launched, benefiting 3,600 artisans and weavers. The program focuses on enhancing technical and soft skills, offering certificates and toolkits to improve competitiveness in the market.

3. ‘Shilp Didi Mahotsav 2024’ (August 22, 2024): This initiative empowered 100 women artisans from 23 states, providing them with marketing opportunities at Dilli Haat, fostering economic independence and entrepreneurship.

4. Textile Gallery Inauguration (August 8, 2024): A new gallery at the Crafts Museum in Delhi, showcasing around 28,000 handmade artifacts, was inaugurated, highlighting India's rich cultural and textile heritage.

5. Eri Sericulture Promotional Project in Gujarat (August 9, 2024): Focused on sustainable agriculture, this project promotes Eri sericulture among 500 castor farmers, providing an additional income stream and supporting eco-friendly practices.

6. Startups in Technical Textiles: On September 6, 2024, the Ministry approved 12 startups under the National Technical Textiles Mission, offering up to ₹50 lakhs each. These startups focus on cutting-edge areas like medical textiles, smart textiles, and sustainable materials.

7. New Pricing Methodology for Jute Bags (August 28, 2024): The government introduced a new pricing methodology for jute sacking bags, benefiting around 4 lakh jute mill workers and 40 lakh farmer families. This decision is expected to modernize the jute industry, reduce dependency on imports, and support Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

8. VisioNxt Fashion Trend Insight System (September 5, 2024): The Ministry launched VisioNxt, a trend forecasting tool utilizing AI and Emotional Intelligence to support weavers, manufacturers, and startups by providing accurate market predictions, improving competitiveness.

9. Curtain Raiser of Bharat Tex 2025 (September 4, 2024): Bharat Tex 2025, a global textile event, was introduced, promising participation from over 5,000 exhibitors and 6,000 international buyers, making it a key platform for showcasing India’s textiles sector to the world.

10. International Conference on Technical Textiles (September 6-7, 2024): This conference highlighted India's potential in the technical textiles market. It facilitated dialogue between industry leaders, researchers, and government officials, focusing on promoting indigenous products and expanding export markets.

 

These initiatives reflect the Ministry of Textiles' commitment to revitalizing the sector, driving innovation, and empowering artisans, while also aligning with broader government goals of sustainability and economic inclusion.