Govt to encourage local textile producers

Seeking to encourage local textile producers, government is looking at ways to check proliferation of imported Chinese fabric into the country.
Textiles Minister Santosh Gangwar said his ministry has flagged the issue of imported Chinese textiles with the Commerce Ministry with a request to check its flow into the country.
Responding to supplementaries, he said the government is concerned with the state of those connected with production of silk, therefore, it has announced setting up of mega clusters in various parts of the country, including one in Bhagalpur in Bihar.
He said to protect the interests of weavers, government is toying with the idea of linking them with MNREGA which provides 100 days of guaranteed work to people in rural areas.

He said there are several schemes to help the weavers in terms of insurance and health facilities.
Responding to a supplementary by Dharmendra Yadav (SP) on whether Centre will provide free power to weavers, he said he has written twice to UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav seeking a meeting to discuss issues related to the state, but he has not yet responded.