In a press conference in New Delhi, Shri Pabitra Margherita, the Minister of State for Textiles, talked about the government's strong focus on providing skills and tools to India’s youth to help the country grow into a “Viksit Bharat” by 2047. He highlighted the Ministry of Textiles' important programs, including the SAMARTH Scheme, which helps improve the skills of people in the textile industry, making them more employable and productive.
Shri Margherita explained that the concept of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with skill development being a top priority, will help India become a $30 trillion economy by 2047. He shared that the Ministry of Textiles is actively working on the Samarth Yojana, which provides training, high-tech looms, and subsidized yarn to help people in the industry. So far, 3.48 lakh people have been trained under this scheme, with 79% of them getting jobs. The scheme has been especially helpful for women, with 88% of the trained participants being women, including many from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
The Minister also spoke about the National Technical Textile Mission, which supports research and new ideas in the field of technical textiles. The Ministry promotes startups in this area and has already invested Rs. 6.27 crore in 12 startup projects. A key focus of the Ministry is also the "Five F" approach—Farmer, Fiber, Factory, Fashion, and Foreign—which links different aspects of the textile industry to global markets.
Shri Margherita explained how the government's efforts to improve skill development have grown since 2014, with the creation of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). The government now works closely with 36 Sector Skill Councils (SSCs) representing over 40,000 companies and 978 ITIs offering practical training. India has become the third-largest startup hub in the world, with 118 unicorns (companies valued at over $1 billion) worth $354 billion.
The Minister also highlighted India’s youth, with an average age of 28.7 years, as a major strength for economic growth. He talked about the government’s new PM Internship Scheme, which will offer 1 crore internships to young people, backed by Rs. 2 lakh crores. The textile industry, which is the second-largest employer in India, is expected to grow even more, with a target of 10 crore jobs by 2030 and the industry’s market size aiming to grow from $165 billion to $350 billion by 2030.
Finally, under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme, support is being provided to artisans and craftspeople across 18 different trades. Shri Margherita also shared a quote from the Prime Minister, explaining the importance of craftsmanship, saying, “The one who creates or works on construction is called Vishwakarma.” This highlights the role of skilled workers in India’s growth. (PR)