SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir has generated just 45 jobs so far from its only approved textile park, highlighting the Union Territory’s marginal presence in the Centre’s textile infrastructure push even as large scale integrated parks elsewhere are projected to create lakhs of jobs.
Data tabled in the Lok Sabha shows that the Jammu and Kashmir Textile Park at Kathua, approved under the Scheme for Integrated Textile Parks, is still under implementation, with a total project cost of Rs 44.11 crore and Rs 35.73 crore released as the Government of India’s share. Despite substantial fund release, employment generation on the ground remains limited, raising questions about pace, scale and industrial absorption in the Union Territory’s textile sector.
The information was shared in response to a starred question on the development of integrated textile parks across the country. The Ministry of Textiles said the government has approved seven PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel parks with a total outlay of Rs 4,445 crore for the period 2021 to 22 to 2027 to 28. These parks are being developed in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.
According to the Ministry, each PM MITRA park is expected to generate around three lakh direct and indirect jobs, covering the entire textile value chain from spinning and weaving to garment manufacturing and accessories. Uttar Pradesh has been allotted one such park at Lucknow, while J&K remains outside the flagship mega park framework.
Under the older Scheme for Integrated Textile Parks, which was operational till March 31, 2021 and later subsumed under the Textile Cluster Development Scheme for completing ongoing projects, 32 parks have been completed nationally and 18 are under implementation. Collectively, these parks have generated around 1.24 lakh jobs across the country, according to the government.
A closer look at the state wise list shows that Gujarat and Maharashtra dominate the textile park landscape, with multiple completed parks generating thousands of jobs each. For instance, Asmeeta Infratech Textile Park in Maharashtra alone has generated over 17,300 jobs, while several Gujarat based parks report employment ranging from 1,000 to over 10,000 workers. Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Punjab also feature prominently with multiple completed parks and sizeable employment figures.
In contrast, Jammu and Kashmir figures at the bottom of the list, with only one park sanctioned and still under execution, and employment in double digits rather than thousands. Among parks currently under implementation, several in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have already crossed the 2,000 job mark, underscoring the sharp regional imbalance in industrial outcomes.
The Ministry said the government is also relying on the Production Linked Incentive scheme for textiles, under which 91 companies have been selected to boost manufacturing of man made fibre apparel, fabrics and technical textiles. In addition, a range of schemes including SAMARTH for capacity building, National Technical Textiles Mission, Integrated Processing Development Scheme, ATUFS, Silk Samagra and handloom and handicraft development programmes are being implemented to support production and employment.
