FinMin working to converge all insurance schemes for weavers

The Finance Ministry is working with concerned ministries to converge all insurance schemes including Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana from next financial year, Parliament was informed today.

In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Textiles Minister Smriti Irani said: "the Finance Ministry is coordinating with concerned ministries to converge all insurance schemes including Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana (MGBBY) to Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana from next financial year." She said the government is planning to increase the level of insurance cover of handloom weavers under the MGBBY.

MGBBY, the insurance scheme for coverage of handloom weavers is being implemented by the Office of Development Commissioner for Handloom through the LIC, she said.

Replying to a separate question, she said as on September 30 this year, there were 2,002 cotton man-made fibre textile mills (non-small scale) in the country.

During the last five years (FY 2011-12 onwards), 129 cotton man-made fibre textile mills were reported closed as on September 30 this year, she added.

The ministry is implementing Integrated Processing Development Scheme to assist the textile processing units to set up/upgrade Common Effluent Treatment Plants with zero liquid discharge technology/marine discharge technology, Irani replied to another question.