As textiles are a major export commodity from India, its textile industry needs adequate resources such as skilled and trained manpower, plus financial capital for both current capital and long-term infrastructure improvements, research and development, and promotion and marketing efforts.

The cabinet committee of economic affairs, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, recently approved a new skill development program for the Indian textile industry, with an outlay of 13 billion Indian Rupees (INR 1,300 crores) for a two-year period.

Human skills will be enhanced based on demand in specific fields within the textile sector and will be implemented via in-house training and through other institutions that have links with the industry. One important aspect is to re-tool or re-skill the labor to adapt technologies and enhance employability in emerging fields.

One million people are expected to go through the skill development program, with the majority being trained in unconventional fields within the industry.

As India’s second largest job provider, the textiles sector needs investments to enhance its human capital and infrastructure. The new scheme will focus not only on new entrants, but also on middle level managers and entrepreneurs.

Coimbatore-based Southern India Mills’ Association (SIMA) has welcomed this support scheme from the government. Mr. P. Nataraj, chairman of SIMA, noted that India is lagging behind China in productivity, and that the new scheme will enable workers to achieve higher productivity.

The Indian industry wants to adopt scientific principles to upgrade its productivity, improve quality and cut costs.