The Union Cabinet recently approved the project of seven Mega Integrated Textile Region land Apparel (MITRA) parks. The project is designed keeping the following two schemes in mind.
- Atmanirbhar Bharat
- Make in India Programme
What is MITRA?
MITRA is the set of seven textile parks and was suggested by the Union budget of 2019-20.
Aim of the PM MITRA Projects
The project’s main aim is to integrate all the textile chains from the spinning of yarn to the printing of garments in just one location.
These seven textile parks are supposed to be self-sufficient. All textile processes will be done in all the parks, like weaving, yarning, printing, distributing, to name a few; this would ensure a big textile setup where all activities related to textile manufacturing will be conducted.
What is the textile industry?
The textile industry is an industrial setup that converts raw material into finished goods.
Here are some examples of textile industries: Agro industries, medicinal industries, fabric industries, chemical industries
Cost of the Project
The project is set up at the cost of Rs. 4,445 crore.
Features of the Project
Two types of MITRA parks are classified in the plan.
Greenfield MITRA Park
It is described as a completely new project. Projects which are going to start from scratch are included in Greenfield MITRA parks.
Brownfield MITRA Park
These are the intermediate projects which have already started. PM MITRA parks will be developed in the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
What is the PPP model?
- These businesses involve collaboration between a government agency and a private sector company.
- The six new metro rail projects of 2018 are examples of previous projects done via the PPP model.
- Each MITRA Park will have all the facilities required to set up a textile industry.
- Each MITRA park will consist of an incubation centre, a common processing house, and an effluent treatment plant.
Funding
- The center will find development capital support.
- Government development capital support is decided as ₹500 crores for each greenfield MITRA park and ₹200 crores for each brownfield MITRA park.
- For each park, an extra cost of ₹300 crores will be provided as a Competitiveness Incentive Support for early setups; this is done to attract early investments.
- ₹10 crores will be funded to every investor who sets up an “anchor plant.”
What is an Anchor Plant?
An anchor plant is defined as an industrial setup that supports the employment of at least 100 persons.
Advantages:
Generate Employment: Each MITRA park will provide jobs to 1-2 lakh people directly or indirectly.
FDI: The seven MITRA parks will attract FDI; there are several offers in the project to lure Foreign Direct Investment.
What is FDI?
FDI stands for Foreign Direct Investment. FDI is a process when a country acquires assistance to produce, distribute, etc., of products or services in other countries. The financial year 2020-21 sees growth of 10% in FDI. The top investors are Singapore, the US, and Mauritius – these foreign countries invested more in Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. The top FDI invested is in the computer and technological sector.
Reduces Cost Logistics: When all the techniques and industries required to change a fiber into the fabric are present in one location, the raw and final costs will be automatically reduced; this will further provide liberty to domestic markets.
Increases the Export Rate: All the parks will be set up at a mega-scale, providing more goods to the Indian export market.
Enhance the GDP: These mega MITRA parks will bring a positive charge to India’s annual GDP.
Other Similar Government Initiatives
Production Linked Incentive Scheme
The scheme was approved in September, and the Union Cabinet has approved it for the textile sector. It is planned to boost domestic manufacturing and reduce import bills. It is the subsidy provided to the government to local manufacturers and foreign investors. It focuses mainly on artificial fabrics and ten other technical textiles.
National Technical Textiles Mission
It was launched in February 2020. The National Technical Textiles Mission aims to position the country as a global leader in technical textiles. It also aims to increase the use of textile goods in domestic markets.
A Way Forward
PM MITRA parks are a great initiative to industrialize and urbanize developing India. If set up with measures and precautions, it will impart employment to around 2-3% of the skilled and unskilled labour directly or indirectly. The lucrative policies to attract FDI will build the economic status of the country at the global level.
The government and the officers should ensure to carry proper practices during the execution of the project. Corruption and Malpractices should be avoided.
If carried will zeal, this project could serve as a mega leader of all the industries in India.