Mangaluru : District In-charge Minister B Ramanath Rai has stressed on the need to make people aware of the benefits offered by the government through the new textile policy 2013-18.

Public awareness is necessary to achieve advancement in the field of handloom and textile business, he said.

The minister spoke after inaugurating a one-day district-level workshop on the new textile policy 2013-18, of the Karnataka State government, organised by the Department of Handloom and Textiles, the Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat, the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development of Karnataka (CEDOK) and the Lions’ Club, at the Lions’ Club Seva Mandir Mallikatte on Saturday.

Legislator Mohiuddin Bava, who chaired the function, said that the beedi industry is already bordering on a fall in the coastal belt and the cashew industry too is unstable.

“The handloom and textile industry can be a good alternative to these conventional industries in the region. In a few states like Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Maharashtra, the textile industry has been developed even in rural areas. With the full support of the State government, there is great scope for development of the textile industry in Mangaluru, which has road connectivity as well as port, railway station and international airport facility,” he explained.

Entrepreneur Govardhan Shetty stressed on research and development (R&D) even in the field of handloom and textiles. He favoured on self-employment or entrepreneurship during an era where even engineers do not get jobs easily.

The Department of Handloom and Textiles Assistant Director K M Bhavikatti said that the State government wanted to create five lakh jobs through its new policy spanning five years. “The policy will attract around Rs 10,000 crore as investment to the State. In addition, the government will invest Rs 1,000 crore,” he explained.

The District Industries Centre Assistant Director Sathyanarayana Bhat explained the policy and its benefits.

District CEDOK Deputy Director Aravind D Baleri, Department of Handloom and Textiles Udupi Deputy Director Dharanesh were present on the occasion.