New Delhi: The government today said the number of jobs in textiles and allied sectors is projected to rise by 15.81 million to 121 million by the end of 12th Five-Year Plan.

As on March 2011, about 105 million people were engaged in these sectors, Textiles Minister Anand Sharma said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

Referring to a report on Working Group on textiles and Jute Industry for the 12th Five-year Plan, he said, the employment creation in the textiles and allied industries is projected to increase by 15.81 million to touch 121.2 million by the end of terminal year of the 12th Five-Year Plan (2017).

Textiles industry is the second largest employer after agriculture in the country providing employment directly and indirectly to millions of people, he added.

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Replying to another query, Sharma said, Textiles Workers Rehabilitation Fund Scheme (TWRFS) has been reviewed in consultation with stakeholders including representatives of textiles industry, state governments and representatives of trade unions.

It has also taken into consideration recommendations for larger coverage of the scheme which is incorporated in draft revised scheme for 12th Plan.

Under TWRFS, the government provides interim relief to the textiles workers rendered unemployed as a consequence of permanent closure of any particular portion or entire textiles unit in the private sector, the minister said.

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Assistance under the scheme is payable to eligible workers after the mill is formally closed for the purpose of enabling them to settle in another employment, he said.

However, he said, the scheme is not applicable to public sector employees.