Samarth Scheme

The Samarth Scheme, a flagship scheme for capacity building in the textiles sector, is being implemented by the Ministry of Textile (SCBTS). Between 2017 and 2020, it plans to teach 10 lakh people. The plan has recently been suspended in some states as a result of the COVID-19-led countrywide shutdown. The Samarth Scheme aims to provide skill development and placement-oriented training across the whole textile value chain, except the organised sector's spinning and weaving.

Quick Facts about Samarth Scheme
Full Name	Scheme for capacity building in the textile sector (SCBTS)
When was it launched?	Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved it in 2017Official Site: https://samarth-textiles.gov.in/about_us
Concerned Ministry	Ministry of Textiles
Target Sector	Organized and Traditional Sector
Objective of Samarth Scheme	Train 10 lakh persons in the entire value chain of textiles excluding spinning and weaving in the organized sector:9 Lakh persons in Organized Sector1 Lakh persons in the traditional sector

Objectives of the Samarth Scheme

• It would give over 10 lakh people with skilling programmes that are consistent with the National Skills Framework Qualification (NSFQ).
• The Samarth Scheme's skilling programmes are designed to encourage and enhance the textile industry's efforts.
• The initiative intends to increase employment in the textile and associated industries, including the whole textile value chain but excluding spinning and weaving.
• Through skilling and skill upgradation, traditional sectors such as handlooms, handicrafts, sericulture, and jute would be enhanced.
• It intends to encourage self-employment among adolescents and others by upgrading the skills of thousands of people.
• Its goal is to ensure that everyone has a section of society.

Salient Features of Samarth Scheme

• Training of Trainers (ToT) - This will improve the master trainers' facilitation capabilities.
• Aadhar Enabled Biometric Attendance System (AEBAS) — This would ensure the trainers' and recipients' trustworthiness.
• Training programmes are being recorded via CCTV — Training institutions will be equipped with CCTV cameras to avoid serious disagreements in the scheme's operation.
• Dedicated call centre with a hotline –
• Management Information System based on a mobile app (MIS)
• Monitoring of training procedures through the internet

The initiative, which would cost Rs.1300 crores, has been authorised by the national government.

Brief Overview of Indian Textile Sector

• The textile sector accounts for around 14% of total industrial output.
• The textile sector in India provides around 4% of the country's GDP (GDP)
• It accounts for 17% of the country's export profits.
• The textile sector in India employs around 3.5 crore people, making it the second biggest after agriculture.

Government Initiatives to Promote Textile Industry

• The Indian government intends to establish a venture capital fund to support textile start-ups and creative concepts (Rs. 100 crores).
• Allowance of 100 percent FDI through the automatic method is another key step to encourage the textile sector.
• During the 12th Five Year Plan, the Integrated Processing Development Scheme (IPDS) was established to develop brownfield and greenfield projects with modern facilities to assist textile clusters.
• In 1999, the government established the Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS) to encourage investment in the textile and associated industries.
• In 2005, the Scheme for Integrated Textile Parks (SITP) was established to encourage investment in the textile industry.