A comprehensive scheme for powerloom sector development, PowerTex India has been launched simultaneously at over 45 locations in the country. Inaugurating the scheme at Bhiwandi in Maharashtra, the textiles minister, Smriti Zubin Irani said that Bhiwandi will be known for resurgence in Powerloom sector. Since the sector alone employed over 44 lakh people, the minister said that the scheme will especially benefit small powerloom weavers.

The comprehensive scheme has the following components:

• In-situ Upgradation of Plain Powerlooms
• Group Workshed Scheme (GWS)
• Yarn Bank Scheme
• Common Facility Centre (CFC)
• Pradhan Mantri Credit Scheme for Powerloom Weavers
• Solar Energy Scheme for Powerlooms
• Facilitation, IT, Awareness, Market Development and Publicity for Powerloom Schemes
• Tex Venture Capital Fund
• Grant-in-Aid and Modernisation & Upgradation of Powerloom Service Centres (PSCs)

On the occasion, Irani along with the chief minister of Maharashtra also launched PowerTex India helpline for any assistance in this regard. PowerTex India van was also flagged off for publicity of the scheme across the country. Later both interacted with various locations like Malegaon, Ichalkaranji and Kolhapur in Maharashtra, Surat in Gujarat, Bhagalpur in Bihar, Erode in Tamil Nadu, Bengaluru in Karnataka, Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, and others through video conference, as the scheme was launched nationwide.

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