Smriti Zubin Irani took over as the new Union Textiles Minister today. Smt. Irani was serving as the Union Minister for Human Resource Development before taking over as the Union Textiles Minister.Speaking to media persons on the occasion, the new Minister thanked the Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for placing her in charge of a sector that employs the largest number of people, next only to agriculture. She said that the sector has a lot of unrealized potential in terms of skilling and employment, and that it can play a very important role in scaling up the ‘Make In India’ vision of the Prime Minister.She noted that the textiles sector provides employment to a large number of women, and that she will continue the efforts being taken under the leadership of the Prime Minister to engage with the industry and help increase the exports of the sector.
Citing that the weavers are the foundation of the sector, Smt. Irani assured that the Government would strive to help them to the maximum possible extent. Speaking of the huge opportunity for skilling, the Minister said that besides improving the skills of the people already engaged in the sector, she would also take steps to bring more youngsters into the field. She once again thanked the Hon’ble Prime Minister for allocating her a portfolio which is of great importance to the rural economy of the nation.She added that she has extended her best wishes to the new HRD Minister Shri Prakash Javadekar, who she said has assured her that he will take forward the initiatives taken by the HRD Ministry in the past two years. She said that she has congratulated her predecessor Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar for his contribution to the Ministry of Textiles, and has thanked him for assuring his support for her new assignment.The Minister of State (Textiles), Shri Ajay Tamta too, who took charge as Minister earlier today, greeted the Cabinet Minister in her chamber, on the occasion.