Government has launched a new Integrated Skill Development Scheme for the Textiles and Apparel Sector. Launching the scheme in New Delhi today, the Union Textiles Minister Mr. Dayanidhi Maran said that the objective of this scheme is capacity building of institutions providing skill development and training in Textiles sector including jute and handicrafts.Mr. Maran said that this new scheme is in line with the policy announcement of the Government in the current Five Year plan. He said that the Finance Minister in his budget speech in the current year had announced launching of a new scheme in Textile Sector envisaging skill development of 30 lakh persons in five years. The Minister said that in the National Skill Development Policy a sect oral target of training 100 lakh persons by the year 2022 in the Textile sector has been fixed.Giving the highlights of the scheme, Mr. Maran said the current scheme envisages an investment of 272 crore rupees. He said of this, the Government contribution will be 229 crore rupees during the balance two years of the XI Five Year Plan. He said that the physical target is 2.56 lakh persons in the said two years. The Minister also said that it also comprises of public-private participation component in pilot mode for private sector participation in providing the skill training.