New Delhi, June 24 (Inditop.com) The government will provide health insurance to 150,000 weavers and open two textile parks, Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran said Wednesday while unveiling the department’s first 100 days’ work agenda.

“The textile sector is the second largest employer after agriculture and accounts for 13.5 percent of the total merchandise export earning and four percent of the GDP,” said Maran.

“The implementation of 100 days action plan will empower various institutions in the ministry and the industry to embrace modern technology,” he added.

“It will help our work processes to become more globally competitive.”

Some of the salient features of the 100-day agenda are:

* Inauguration of two integrated textile parks under SITP (Scheme for integrated textile parks)

* Launch of programme to train 50,000 weavers

* Health insurance for 1.5 lakh weavers

* Training of one lakh artisans

* ID cards for 1.5 lakh artisans

* Expansion of coverage of Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme