Government to create 5 million jobs in textile industry during 11th plan

The government has formulated a scheme under which it will set up 'neighbourhood apparel & textile training institutes' for job assurance (NATIJA) for establishing a network of employment-linked training facilities in basic garment manufacturing technology.

The government expects the textile industry to generate an additional five million jobs for skilled labour in the 11th five-year plan period. This, in turn, will create the need for an enlarged training and educational infrastructure, minister of state for textiles EVKS Elangovan informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply.

Textiles have been recognised as a thrust area for growth during the eleventh plan due to the sector's potential to boost productivity, employment and investment, he added.

The Scheme is designed to meet the projected demand of four million trained workers required in the garment industry over the next five years. This scheme is to be operated at regional and sub-regional level across the country on public private partnership (PPP) model, the minister said.

The existing ITIs/polytechnics and other such institutes could be considered for locating such centres in the initial phase. Creation of new training centres may be considered subsequently to meet the demand, as and when required. However, the government has not set a time frame for launching the scheme.