'Upcoming textile policy to address skilled workers' shortage'

Textiles Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar said on Tuesday that the issue of scarcity of skilled workers will be taken up in the upcoming textile policy aimed to address critical concerns of the sector while plans for textile parks are going ahead.

"Unfortunately, in this country we have more engineers but there is woeful shortage of skilled people," Gangwar said on the sidelines of an event organised by Ficci here.

He said that his ministry is ensuring that work on 20 textile parks is expedited and the technology upgradation plan given a fillip through an investment of Rs.4,000 crore.

Gangwar said his ministry has approved a scheme to set-up an apparel and garment centre for northeast India in Nagaland which will augment entrepreneurship and create a pool of skilled workers in the region.

He noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced creation of an apparel and garment centre for all the states in the north-east.

Further, post Modi's return from his Japan trip last year, a textile manufacturing unit with Japanese investment is under consideration.