PDEXCIL Demands Subsidized Housing For Power Loom Workers Ahead of Budget 2018-19

Trade & Policy

PDEXCIL Demands Subsidized Housing For Power Loom Workers Ahead of Budget 2018-19

The Power loom development and Export Promotion Council (PDEXCIL) made a strong representation in front of the government recently when the Ministry of Textiles held a meeting regarding pre-budget proposal for 2018-19, wherein suggestions and inputs were asked by all export promotion councils (EPCs) pertaining to their sector.

PDEXCIL represented their causes pertaining to the power loom sector for purposes of development and promotion of exports. It sought from the government an allowance to make available 30% Margin Money Subsidy (MMS) under ATUFS to help power loom weavers to modernize technology. It also pressed that all the 13 schemes like TUFS, In-Situ Upgradation, Yarn Bank, Common Facility Centre, Group Workshed etc. under PowerTex India should be continued so that process of development of small and marginal power loom weavers does not get interrupted.

In addition PDEXCIL demanded that under Group Insurance Scheme the claim for natural as well as accidental death should be increased by 25%. Besides, the council pressed for infrastructure support such as yarn market and cloth market should be provided in Bhiwandi, Malegaon (Maharashtra), Sircilla (Telengana) and other clusters of power loom.

Another demand that PDEXCIL made to the ministry was pertaining to labour. It said, “Even after technological, financial and other form of support, sometimes the industry faces certain issues which are related to its labour. Social support to the labour is very much required in the power loom sector as it is a labour intensive field and highly dependent on it.”

“Housing colony at subsidized rates should be provided to power loom workers in order to retain them in this sector,” stated the PDEXCIL release in its concluding demand to the ministry.