Lok Sabha Question No. 5293 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-06
Subject: Suicides by Powerloom Weavers
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: KIRIT PREMJIBHAI SOLANKI

## SUICIDES BY POWERLOOM WEAVERS

## 5293.   DR. KIRIT P. SOLANKI:

Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंरी be pleased to state:

(a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  measures  to  address  the  distressing crises in the powerloom industry and taken action to curb the increasing number of suicides by the powerloom weavers and if so, the details thereof;

- (b) the steps taken to facilitate rapid modernization of powerlooms;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  considered  collaborating  with  the  State Governments to replace the existing powerlooms with the jet looms to produce value added fabric for good marketing and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  identified  the  woes  of  the  workers  and established a proper redressal mechanism and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER वस्त्र राज्य मंरी श्री अजय टम्टा

## ( ) MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES (SHRI AJAY TAMTA)

(a)  &  (b): No  reports of  instances  of  suicides  of  the  powerloom  weavers have been received by the Ministry of Textiles. However, in order to strengthen and modernize the Powerloom Sector, Government has launched PowerTex India, a Comprehensive Scheme for Powerloom Sector Development w.e.f. 01.04.2017. Under the scheme there are several interventions. Under In-situ upgradation of plain powerloom scheme the subsidy amount has been enhanced from Rs.15,000/-  to  Rs.20,000(GEN-  50%),  Rs.  30,000  (SC  -75%),  Rs  36,000  (ST90%)  -  per  loom;  under  Group  Workshed  Scheme  the  GOI  assistance  for construction  of  workshed    has  been  enhanced    from  Rs.  300/-  to  Rs.400/-  per sqft; and under Yarn Bank component, the government share of  Corpus limit has been  enhanced  from  Rs.1.00  crore  to  Rs.2.00  crores  per  project.  Two  new components  namely  (i)  Pradhan  Mantri  Mudra  Scheme,  under  which  Margin Money  Subsidy  and  Interest  Subvention  are  provided;  and  (ii)  Solar  Energy

Scheme under which financial assistance is provided to the tune of 50%, 75% and 90% to the Gen, SC/ST category workers respectively; have been introduced.

(c): State  Governments  have  been  requested  to  provide  additional  benefits  to powerloom  units  in  their  States  in  addition  to  the  subsidy  /benefits  given  by Govt. of India. The  details of additional subsidy provided by Govt. of Maharashtra, Telengana, Bihar and Karnataka under In-situ upgradation scheme are given below:-

| State       | Clusters covered                                        | Subsidy   |
|-------------|---------------------------------------------------------|-----------|
| Maharashtra | Malegaon, Nagpur, Ichalkaranji, Bhiwandi, Solapur &Vita | Rs.10,000 |
| Telangana   | Sircilla                                                | Rs.10,000 |
| Bihar       | Bhagalpur                                               | Rs.12,000 |
| Karnataka   | Bangalore &Belgaum                                      | Rs.10,000 |

However, there is no proposal for collaborating with State Governments to replace the existing Powerlooms with the jet looms i.e. Air jet and Water jet.

(d)  &  (e) :  Stakeholders  meeting  are  held  with  members  of  the  Powerloom industry. During 2016-17 three stakeholders meeting were held with representatives  from  Powerloom  sector  at  the  Ministry  level.    Further,  several stakeholders meetings were held at the cluster level. Apart from this, grievances received through the Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) are redressed.  Based on the suggestions received, the Ministry takes necessary measures for removing the impediments and strengthening the sector.

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