SAMARTH to address the skill gap in textile sector

13 February 2021: Scheme for Capacity Building in Textile Sector (SAMARTH) is being approved towards addressing the skill gap in textile sector. The scheme also aims to supplement the efforts of textile industry in providing gainful and sustainable employment to the youth.

The skilling programme under Samarth is implemented through Implementing Partners (IPs) comprising Textile Industry/ Industry Associations, State Government Agencies and Sectoral Organizations of Ministry of Textiles.

The objectives of Samarth are as follows: To provide demand driven, placement oriented National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) compliant skilling programmes to incentivize and supplement the efforts of the industry in creating jobs in the organized textile and related sectors, covering the entire value chain of textiles, excluding Spinning and Weaving.

The scheme also aims to promote skilling and skill upgradation in the traditional sectors of handlooms, handicrafts, sericulture and jute, and enable provision of sustainable livelihood either by wage or self-employment to all sections of the society across the country.

All training batches ongoing during March, 2020 had to be cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic and restriction imposed on account of lockdown declared by the Government. Further, the Government had allowed commencement of skill development training programme only from September, 2020. In view of the impact of COVID-19, the actual physical achievement and utilization of funds have been affected under the scheme. However, a special measure has been initiated during the period to carry out online Training of Trainers (ToT) programme and more than 500 trainers have been certified through online mode.