Lok Sabha Question No. 2927 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-04
Subject: Weavers’ Service Centres
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: MAUSAM NOOR

## WEAVERS' SERVICE CENTRES

## 2927. SHRIMATI MAUSAM NOOR:

## Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंरी

be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has established or proposes to establish Weavers' Service Centres;

(b) if so, the details of services to be rendered through such Centres;

(c) whether these Centres are expected  to provide knowledge exchange services to the weavers and if so, the details thereof; and

(d)  whether  the  Government  has  entered  into  any  agreement  with  industry  leaders  in  textiles  or  leading institutions of textile technology for the purpose and if so, the details thereof?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER

## वस्त्र मंरी ( श्री अज )

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

(a): 28 Weavers' Service Centres are established in various parts of the country.

(b) & (c): The activities of these centres are mainly relating to the technical requirements of the handloom weavers,  handloom  co-operatives/Corporations  &  other  manufacturers,  exporters,  designers,  etc.  in  terms  of providing new designs, woven textures/structures/patterns, product development/diversifications, dyeing of yarn with proper shade matching, printing of fabric with new designs, etc. Besides providing technical services, these centres  also  conduct  in-house  training  programs  in  designing,  weaving  and  dyeing/printing  to  the  weavers, students or anyone who is interested to undergo short-term training for upgradation of technical skills. The gist of other activities of the centres is given below:-

-  Implementing  various  schemes  in  handloom  sector  of  the  Government  of  India  and  providing assistance and interaction with State Governments, handloom agencies such as Apex and primary cooperatives, State and private undertakings dealing in handlooms.
-  To provide training to the handloom weavers covered under 'Block Level Cluster' Scheme for their skill  upgradation  for  development  of  new  samples  according  to  the  latest  market  trends  along  with monitoring regarding implementation.
-  Providing  market  support  by  arranging  interface  between  designers,  producers  and  buyers  which includes execution of sample orders.
-  Preserving and documenting traditional skills and revival of traditional skills and revival of traditional designs for production and marketing.
-  Arranging exhibitions, seminars, workshops focusing on new and improved designs, equipments and processing techniques.
-  Solving problems arising in pre-loom, loom and post loom processes and technologies.
-  Improving techniques of processing.
-  Product development to evolve more marketable products by interaction between expertise available in the fields of weaving, designing and processing.
-  Improving weaving techniques and accessories and appliances used in weaving.
-  Providing assistance to weavers (handloom pockets) which are located far away from Centres and have no access to WSCs by deputing the staff of WSC on a particular day in a month.

(d): Yes.  As  per  Memorandum  of  Understanding  (MoU)  signed  with  National  Institute  of  Fashion Technology (NIFT), New Delhi, handlooms has been included as one of the subjects in the course curriculum of undergraduate & postgraduate courses for the academic session 2016-17.