Industry should decide launch-date of new Tech Upgradation Fund scheme: Union Minister Jardosh

“About 1,500 cases related to TUF are pending. We have done special programmes related to TUFs in Ahmedabad, Surat and Chennai, and tried to bring solutions. But as these cases are pending, a new scheme cannot be operationalised. So the industry has itself decided and told us that the old TUF scheme will be closed by May. We have sought recommendations for a new scheme which will be introduced with a fresh name, and technical and machinery support,” the minister said, adding that 78 different associations linked to the textile industry across the country were invited for the interactive session.

This interaction was part of “Leadership Conclave” organised by the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI).

GCCI which made a presentation before the minister sought the introduction of the new TUF scheme with retrospective effect from April 2022. The old TUF scheme expired in March, 2022. It also sought government intervention in clearing pending TUF cases due to “small and petty issues”.

Pointing out that the textile industry in India is based on cotton, the minister said enough work on improving the cotton yield and quality of seed has not been done. “People across the world largely use man-made fibre. We use only 25 per cent of it. So, when the government announced the Production-Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI) scheme, it was focused on technical textiles, ready-made garments and man-made fibre. Of the 87 firms who have shown interest in the scheme, seven players are from Gujarat,” Jardosh added.

Later in the evening, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel formally inaugurated the Textile Conclave and unveiled a textile directory which has profiles of 6,000 companies in nine product categories.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Jardosh on Saturday inaugurated a three- day special handloom expo in Surat.