Lok Sabha Question No. 2144 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-23
Subject: Effects of COVID-19 Lockdown
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Annpurna Devi, Geetha Viswanath Vanga, Kotha Prabhakar  Reddy, Behanan Benny, Suresh Kodikunnil, K. Muraleedharan

## EFFECTS OF COVID-19 LOCKDOWN

2144.    SHRIMATI ANNPURNA DEVI:

SHRIMATI VANGA GEETHA VISWANATH:

SHRI KOTHA PRABHAKAR REDDY:

SHRI BENNY BEHANAN:

SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH:

SHRI K. MURALEEDHARAN:

## Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंत्री

be pleased to state :

(a) whether the Government is aware that the textile industry in the country including small scale units and handloom weavers have been badly affected due to COVID-19 pandemic lockdown and many handloom units/ brands have been closed/are on verge of closure resulting in loss of jobs/livelihood of weavers and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise including Telangana and Karnataka;

(b) the details of various factors hampering the restart of such closed units;

(c)  whether  textile  workers/weavers  are  being  forced  to  mortgage  their  homes  and  jewels  to  sustain themselves as their work has come to a standstill and if so, the steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard, State/UT-wise including Kerala; and

(d) whether the Government proposes to waive off the pending electricity bill arrears of the weavers across the country during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, if so, the details thereof and the time by which it is likely to be done?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER

## वस्त्र मंत्री ( श्रीमती स्मृतत ज़ूबिन इरानी )

## MINISTER OF TEXTILES (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a)  &  (b): Textile  sector  is  highly  unorganized.   The  government  has  conducted  a  study  viz.  'Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on Indian silk industry' to ascertain the  crisis  caused to the  sector. The industry  has faced various problems of production, cocoon and raw silk prices, transportation problem, non-availability of skilled workers, sale of raw silk and silk products, working capital and cash flow, reduced  export / import orders , besides  restrictions.

For example, in the last three months, order and supply showed a decline in jute production during the peak Covid-19 period. But it is substantially improving now.

The  current  pandemic  has  affected  the  existing  modus  operandi  of  various  textile  sectors  by  posing restriction  of  social  gathering,  migration  of  laborers  as  well  as  affecting  all  the  stakeholders  right  from farmers  to  traders/exporters  in  the  value  chain  .  At  the  same  time,   it  has  opened  new  window  of opportunities which were previously less explored.

The  government  has  initiated  special  measures  to  help  ameliorate  the  conditions  in  textile  sector  due  to Covid pandemic and to boost production, marketing and job opportunities in the sector.

The Government of India has also announced a special economic package viz . AatmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan  for  boosting  economy  of  the  country  and  making  India  self-reliant.  Relief  and  credit  support measures have been announced for various sectors. The weavers & artisans can avail benefits of these relief and credit support measures to revive their businesses which have suffered due to lock down necessitated by Covid-19 pandemic.

Apart  from  the  above  special  economic  package,  the  Ministry  of  Textiles  has  taken  following initiatives for the benefits of handloom weavers and artisans across the country: -

- i. To  support  the  handloom  and  handicraft  sectors  and  to  enable  wider  market  for  handloom weavers/artisans/producers,  steps  have  been  taken  to  on-board  weavers/artisans  on  Government e-Market  place  (GeM)  to  enable  them  to  sell  their  products  directly  to  various  Government Departments and organizations.
- ii. To promote e-marketing of handloom products, a policy frame work was designed and under which any  willing  e-commerce  platform  with  good  track  record  can  participate  in  online  marketing  of handloom products. Accordingly, 23 e-commerce entities have been engaged for on-line marketing of handloom products.
- iii. A social media campaign #Vocal4handmade was launched on the 6 th National Handloom Day by the Government, in partnership with all stakeholders, to promote the handloom legacy of India and to ensure  people's  support  for  the  weaving  community.   It  has  been  reported  that  the  social  media campaign  has  resulted  in  renewed  interest  of  the  Indian  public  in  handlooms  and  several  ecommerce players have reported increase in sale of Indian handloom products.
- iv. The Ministry of Textiles has requested the Chief Ministers of all States and UTs to instruct their State Handloom Corporations/Co-operatives/Agencies to make purchases of the finished inventory available  with  the  handloom  weavers/artisans  so  as  to  put  some  ready  cash  in  the  hands  of  the weavers to enable them meet their household needs.
- v. In  the  face  of  the  unprecedented  Covid-19  pandemic,  it  is  not  feasible  to  hold  conventional marketing events such as exhibitions, melas, etc. To deal with this crisis, the Government endeavors to provide online marketing opportunities to our weavers and handloom producers.

Taking a step towards realizing 'AatmaNirbhar Bharat', the vision of our Hon'ble Prime Minister,  Handloom  Export  Promotion  Council  has  endeavored to  virtually  connect  the Handloom Weavers and exportersfrom different corners of the country with the International Market.

With  more  than  200  participants  from  different  regions  of  the  country  showcasing  their products with unique designs and skills, THE INDIAN TEXTILE SOURCING FAIR was organized on 7, 10 and 11th August 2020.  The show has attracted considerable attention of the International Buyers.

- vi. Design Resource Centres are being set up in Weavers Service Centres (WSCs) through NIFT with the objective to build and create design-oriented excellence in the Handloom Sector and to facilitate weavers, exporters, manufacturers and designers for creating new designs.
- vii. Ministry  of  Textiles  is  implementing  various  schemes  through  the  Offices  of  Development Commissioner  (Handlooms)  for  overall  development  of  handlooms  and  welfare  of  handloom weavers across the country.  The Scheme details are as under: -
3.  National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP)
4.  Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS)
5.  Handloom Weavers' Comprehensive Welfare Scheme (HWCWS)
6.  Yarn Supply Scheme (YSS)

Under the above schemes, financial assistance is provided for raw materials, purchase of looms and accessories, design innovation, product diversification, infrastructure development, skill upgradation, lighting units, marketing of handloom products and loan at concessional rates.

(c): There are no reports from any quarter that handloom weavers are forced to mortgage their homes and jewels to sustain themselves.

(d): There is no proposal in this Ministry to waive off the electricity bill arrears of the weavers across the country.