Latest news with #MITRA
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Green energy transition can unlock Rs5.4L cr investment for Vidarbha: Report
Mumbai: India's first regional energy transition plan for Vidarbha has suggested that around 25 million tonnes of carbon emissions could be saved if the region's coal-based mining and energy economy is replaced with the greener one comprising renewable and forests. Such a saving will be equivalent to removing 12.5 million or 1.25 crore polluting cars from the roads, which is equal to one-third of total vehicles (3.77 crores) in Maharashtra, an environmental think-tank has said. A green transition in Chandrapur-Nagpur-Yavatmal (CNY), Maharashtra's coal energy hub, can potentially unlock Rs5.4 lakh crore investment, 3.4 lakh jobs and 4% regional GDP growth by 2035, finds a report by iFOREST, an international forum for environment, sustainability and technology. The CNY region, responsible for 100% of Maharashtra's coal production and half its coal-based thermal power capacity, is the state's energy backbone. With resource exhaustion triggering coal decline by 50% in the next decade, the repurposing of closed and retiring coal mines can propel CNY into Maharashtra's green industry and energy hub, the report said. According to Dr Chandra Bhushan, CEO of iFOREST, saving 25 million tonnes of carbon emissions would have a long-lasting effect as it would mean removing 1.25 crore cars from roads permanently. In a move to secure India's clean energy future, iFOREST, in collaboration with Maharashtra govt's Department of Environment and Climate Change, released the first-ever Regional Just Transition Investment Plan recently, focused on the CNY region. The 10-year blueprint identifies three Economic Development Nodes — Bhadrawati–Wani, Rajura–Chandrapur, and Umred—which can together repurpose 6,000 hectares of coal mine land into green energy and industrial hubs. Highest solar potential found in the CNY region is expected to generate 37 GW of solar energy opportunities. According to a report, Rs33,400 crore from public investments, coal companies and power utilities can fund land reclamation and repurposing. Maharashtra chief secretary Sujata Saunik, said, "Our focus should be to attract investment for development of renewable energy projects and green industrial clusters. We also need to expand electrification from personal vehicles to commercial transportation. This transition will be driven by policy frameworks that unlock green finance and support innovation. Maharashtra has consistently led from the front in adopting progressive policies for climate resilience and sustainability. " Praveen Pardeshi, the chief economic advisor to the chief minister, and CEO, MITRA said, "Forty percent of Maharashtra's energy is used by farmers to pump water for irrigation. Moving them to solar pumps is our biggest ongoing success story. We need innovative nudge policies and behaviour change incentives to support a transition of this scale from traditional energy sources."
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Industry calls for innovation to revive textile sector
Ludhiana: The textile industry of Ludhiana, a city long hailed as the powerhouse of India's hosiery and knitwear sector, is facing an urgent need for reinvention amid rising global competition, bureaucratic red tape, and lack of govt support. These concerns, alongside future opportunities, were the focus of an event organised by the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) along with ITMA. Titled "Challenges and opportunities in the Ludhiana textile industry," the event saw key industry leaders, experts, and association heads, including representatives from the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI), United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers Association (UCPMA), and the Knitwear Club. Jagbir Singh Sokhi, president of the Ludhiana Sewing Machine Technology Park Association, said, "We are no longer those self-reliant Indians. We've become copycats, proud to own iPhones and imported brands, but where is the pride in our own innovations? Where is the spirit of 'vocal for local'?" A recurring theme throughout the conference was the alarming lack of innovation. Sokhi pointed out how Punjab once led the world in sewing machine production, but in just two decades, Chinese brands like Zach have taken over 75% of the Indian market share. "They've even handed over machines to local tailors, collecting only a share of their earnings. We are now OE (original equipment) manufacturers for foreign brands, but where is our own brand identity?" he asked. Vinod Thapar, chairman of the Knitwear Club, emphasised challenges in attracting women to the workforce. A survey conducted jointly by UNIDO and the Knitwear Club years ago found that women excelled in the hosiery sector across countries like China, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Yet, Ludhiana has only 10% female participation in the sector, leaving a 40% vacuum in workforce potential. Thapar also raised concerns about a lack of workplace infrastructure and facilities for women. Avtar Singh Bhogal, senior vice-president of UCPMA, was blunt in his comparison of Indian and Chinese industrial environments. "While we are stuck in red tape just to buy land or get clearances, Chinese companies are already producing and exporting finished goods at the price it costs us to manufacture just the components." He added that Indian bikes weigh 15 kg, while the demand in Europe is for 1.5 kg carbon fibre bikes, which India is ill-equipped to produce due to lack of infrastructure and technology. Rajesh Bansal, another industry figure, focused on the environmental compliance costs that have hamstrung local manufacturers. "We face serious pollution concerns, but where are the subsidies for effluent treatment equipment? Processing of fibre and fabric manufacturing is lagging due to poor support," he said. Chandrika Chatterjee, secretary general of CITI, provided some optimism by speaking about the PM MITRA scheme and the Free Trade Agreement with the UK. She emphasised the untapped potential for increasing Indo-UK textile trade, which currently stands at $10 billion but could expand by an additional $4–5 billion. "The world is looking beyond China and Bangladesh. India has a real opportunity here, if we can address the bottlenecks," she said. Highlighting the urgency to foster innovation and startups in the sector, Suraj Dhawan of ITMA suggested organising hackathons to crowdsource fresh ideas and solutions for industry pain points. Sidharth Khanna, chairman of NITMA, and other senior members pointed out the need for deeper collaboration between govt bodies and the private sector to overcome export barriers and technology gaps.
The Hindu
7 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Energy hub in Chandrapur-Nagpur-Yavatmal can generate 3.4 lakh jobs: report
A green transition in Chandrapur-Nagpur-Yavatmal (CNY), Maharashtra's energy hub, can unlock ₹5.4 lakh crore investment, 3.4 lakh jobs and 4% regional GDP growth, a report by the International Forum for Environment, Sustainability and Technology (iFOREST), an environmental think tank, claimed on Wednesday (June 25, 2025) in Mumbai. iFOREST released the Just Transition Investment Plan for the CNY region, which accounts for 100% of the state's coal production and half its coal-based power. The report stated that the CNY region will witness a decline in coal production by 50% in the next decade due to resource exhaustion. As a solution, the closed and retiring coal mines can be converted into Maharashtra's green industry and energy hub. This blueprint will help turn the traditional energy cluster into a green investment destination by developing strategic economic nodes and unlocking the region's renewable energy and industrial potential. We have to look towards the alternative, which talks about economy and environment,' said Dr. Chandra Bhushan, CEO of iFOREST, while speaking at the conference held in Mumbai for releasing the Just Transition Investment Plan report. 'The 10-year blueprint identifies three Economic Development Nodes—Bhadrawati–Wani, Rajura–Chandrapur, and Umrer- spanning over 6,000 hectares of coal mine land that can be used for developing green energy and industrial hubs, as it has the highest solar energy opportunities—37 GW. For land reclamation and repurposing, it will require ₹33,400 crore funds from public investments, coal companies and power utilities,' mentions the report. Chief Secretary, Govt. of Maharashtra, Sujata Saunik highlighted that the focus should be to attract investment for renewable energy projects and green industrial clusters, while green transition should be 'far-reaching and fair'. Meanwhile, Chief Economic Advisor to the Chief Minister and CEO of MITRA, Praveen Pardeshi, emphasised making farmers independent as they are heavily dependent on electricity for water. '40 %of Maharashtra's energy is used by farmers to pump water for irrigation. Moving them to solar pumps will be significant. We need innovative nudge policies and behaviour change incentives to support a transition of this scale from traditional energy sources,' said Mr. Pardeshi.
Focus Malaysia
06-06-2025
- Business
- Focus Malaysia
Ensure effective delivery of MITRA funds and initiatives
Letter to Editor IN August 2024, Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit MITRA (MITRA) chairman P. Prabakaran requested an increase in the allocation for the India community to RM300 mil in Budget 2025, up from the current RM100 mil. Prabakaran, who is also the Batu MP, said the RM 100mil allocated annually wasn't enough to effectively fund initiatives aimed at improving the socio-economic status of Malaysian Indians. He highlighted concerns that the amount would be inadequate to meet the diverse needs of the community and drive meaningful upliftment programmes. Now given that MITRA has endorsed 45 applications totaling RM40 mil which are awaiting processing at the Prime Minister's Office, why is there a delay in their disbursement? Prabakaran had emphasised that the government needs to boost the budget to adequately support projects that are genuinely transformational for the Indian community. Why aren't funding initiatives for the Indian community given higher importance? As June approaches, it is concerning that the Indian community remains unaware of the actual disbursement status of the RM100 mil allocated to MITRA this year. It is crucial that these funds are approved and effectively implemented without delay to provide tangible benefits for the Indian community. MITRA opened applications for the Socioeconomic Development Grant Programme for the Malaysian Indian Community (PPSMI) 2025 from Oct 15 to Nov 14, 2024. That was about seven months ago. MITRA should undergo a full restructuring. To fulfill her May 23 PKR election promise to champion the Indian community, Nurul Izzah Anwar faces the critical task of fast-tracking MITRA's initiatives and programmes. She must guarantee the swift approval and implementation of the RM40 mil allocated for Phase 1 of Budget 2025, as any further delays will hinder tangible progress and risk the return of unutilised funds to the Finance Ministry by the third quarter of 2025. It's been almost four months since funds amounting to RM40 mil for NGOs and training organisations were approved and agreements were signed. Yet, the money remains undistributed and there's no clear execution plan in sight. This delay hinders vital community works and training initiatives The recommendation is for community development professionals and experts to lead the organization. This change is crucial to ensure both transparency and effective management within MITRA. ‒ June 3, 2025 Muniandy Krishna Kuala Lumpur The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia. Main image: Bernama
Time of India
05-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Maha govt to seek help of private companies to upgrade its ITIs
1 2 3 Nagpur: To address the growing demand for skilled manpower in emerging sectors like solar energy and electric vehicles, the Maharashtra govt has announced a new policy to upgrade its industrial training institutes (ITIs) through private partnerships. Speaking at a seminar, skill development minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha said the policy is aimed at transforming govt ITIs into world-class training centres with the active involvement of private industry. "The pace of industrial change is rapid, and new technologies require new skills. We want to equip our youth accordingly," he said. The minister revealed that the state has 418 govt-run ITIs and nearly 600 in the private sector. "Training must align with actual job market needs," Lodha added. "We've studied the gaps and launched this policy to overcome gaps by partnering with industry." Under the scheme, industries, industrial associations, PSUs, and NGOs can adopt ITIs. Tenure options include 10 years with Rs10 crore investment or 20 years with Rs20 crore. MITRA (Maharashtra Institution for Transformation) will act as the strategic partner for implementation. Lodha assured the govt's commitment to provide technically skilled young manpower through ITIs and urged private companies to come forward with confidence to partner in this modernisation effort. This initiative involves multiple stakeholders including Ratan Tata Maharashtra State Skill University, Maharashtra State Skill Development Society, and others. Advantage Vidarbha's Ashish Kale expressed hope that the policy will meet the growing demand for skilled manpower driven by new industries in the Vidarbha region, supported by investments encouraged by leaders like chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union minister Nitin Gadkari. Lodha also attended a job fair organised by RTMNU with the District Skill Development Center and Model Career Center, where 19 companies offered jobs to over 300 students. A student app was also launched to help youth access employment and training resources.
