INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT)

Recognising the vital role of IT in a progressively IT-driven global economic environment, as also its scope in bringing about speed, efficiency and transparency in delivery systems, Government will play a proactive role in promoting and facilitating adoption of IT in the textile industry and trade. Using IT as the platform, a strong commercial intelligence network will be built up and suitable infrastructure for harnessing the potential of e-commerce will be put in place.

HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

HRD assumes new significance with inescapable competition facing Indian textile products both in the international and domestic markets. Government will support programmes of organisations and institutions engaged in HRD that address the professional manpower needs of the industry, as well as at the cutting edge level of workers and shop-floor supervisors. Institutions will be encouraged to network and synergistically co-operate amongst themselves. IT will become an integral part of HRD effort.

In recognition of the pioneering role of NIFT, the Institution will be assisted to grow and progress on innovative lines. The Nodal Centre for Upgradation of Textile Education (NCUTE) will be helped to grow into an autonomous National level TexEd Resource Centre. Information and expertise available in technical institutes like IITs, TITs and NID will be tapped for expansion of programmes.

FISCAL AND FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS

A growth-oriented fiscal road map will be drawn up, which has the advantage of predictability. The parameters within which the multi-level duty structure and rates of levies will be reviewed and rationalised will include the thrust on exports, the fiscal regime of major competing countries, WTO consistency, and the need to keep prices at levels affordable to the largely poor consumers, who will continue to form the bulk of the market.

Funding requirements of different segments of the textile industry will be periodically reviewed and short-term and long-term requirements spelled out, particularly of the handloom, powerloom, handicrafts and sericulture sectors. Innovative measures for tapping public and private sector funding will be worked out. The endeavor will be to,

• Encourage the private sector to take the initiative in participating in financing of specific needs of the textile industry;
• Set up a Venture Capital Fund in consultation with and involvement of financial institutions for the promotion of talented Indian Designers, Technologists, innovative market leaders and e-commerce ventures;

DELIVERY MECHANISMS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE POLICY

Organisations working under the Ministry of Textiles will be re-oriented, rightsized and restructured to act as facilitators instead of regulatory bodies, with the mandate and role of each being reviewed and redefined over the next two years. Simultaneously, regulations and controls will be reviewed and progressively reduced.

Some of the specific changes will be:

• The role of the Offices of the Textile Commissioner and Jute Commissioner will be moulded to serve the developmental needs of the industry;
• Export Promotion Councils will be restructured so as to become capable of devising dynamic export strategies; promoting financing; disseminating information on various aspects of the WTO agreements; extending legal advice to trade and industry in dispute settlements, etc.
• All the nine Textile Research Associations under the Ministry of Textiles will be revamped to give a market and industry driven focus to their Research and Development support.
• The role of the Central Silk Board will be restructured in keeping with the objective of participative implementation in partnership with the State Governments and the private sector