“...Rs 2,546 crore (under TUFS) will reach the beneficiaries in 72-hours,” Textile Minister Dayanidhi Maran told reporters here adding “during the slowdown this will help the industry...and bring lot of comfort to the industry”.

He said by releasing the amount, the dues to the industry under the scheme till June 30, 2009 stand “cleared”.

The fund would be transferred electronically through more than 121 financial institutions and banks to the accounts of 12,514 beneficiaries.

Maran also said the ministry would approach Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee for more funds for the textile sector.

Under the TUFS the government provides subsidies to the industry so that it can modernise by installing new machinery.

The government also announced the constitution of a 41-member working group under the Textile Secretary Rita Menon to form a National Fibre Policy, aimed at making India self- sufficient in fibre consumption and export requirements.