Lok Sabha Question No. 2037 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-29
Subject: Weavers and Artisans
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Nishikant  Dubey

## 2037.  DR. NISHIKANT DUBEY:

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

- (a) The features of the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti and Surkasha Bima Yojana and the number  of  weavers  and  artisans  benefitted  under  the  scheme,  State/UT-wise  including Jharkhand;
- (b) Whether  the  Government  has  formulated  any  other  scheme  to  improve  the economic conditions of weavers and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) The quantum of export of handloom textiles during each of the last three years and the current year?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER

## वस्त्र मंरी ( श्रीमती स्मृ तत ज़ूबिन इरानी )

MINISTER OF TEXTILES (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

- (a): Government of India, Ministry of Textiles is implementing Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana(PMSBY), components of Handloom  Weavers  Comprehensive  Welfare  Scheme  to  provide  the  Life,  accidental  & disability insurance coverage to handloom weavers/workers and handicrafts artisans/workers  across the country. The salient features of these components are as follows:-

| Scheme components   | Age Group   | Insurance coverage   | Benefits (in Rupees)   | Premium Share                                                             |
|---------------------|-------------|----------------------|------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| PMJJBY              | 18-50 years | Natural Death        | 2,00,000               | Rs.330/- GoI share - Rs.150/- LIC share - Rs.100/- Weaver/worker -Rs.80/- |
| PMSBY               | 18-50 years | Accidental Death     | 2,00,000               | Rs.12/- entirely borne by GOI                                             |
| PMSBY               | 18-50 years | Total Disability     | 2,00,000               | Rs.12/- entirely borne by GOI                                             |
| PMSBY               | 18-50 years | Partial Disability   | 1,00,000               | Rs.12/- entirely borne by GOI                                             |

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2037 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.11.2019

## WEAVERS AND ARTISANS

State/UT-wise number of handloom weavers/workers and handicrafts artisans/workers enrolled across the country, including Jharkhand State under PMJJBY/PMSBY is Annexed.

- (b): To Develop, promote and to improve the economic conditions of handloom weavers across the country, Government of India has been implementing the following Schemes:-
- 1) National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP)
- 2) Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS)
- 3) Handloom Weavers' Comprehensive Welfare Scheme (HWCWS)
- 4) 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.

## A. NATIONAL HANDLOOM DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (NHDP)

- (i) BLOCK  LEVEL  CLUSTER: Introduced  in  2015-16  as  one  of  the  components  of National  Handloom  Development  Programme  (NHDP).    Financial  assistance upto Rs. 2.00 crore per BLC for various interventions such as skill upgradation, Hathkargha  Samvardhan  Sahayata,  product  development,  construction  of workshed,  project  management  cost,  design  development,  setting  up  of common  facility  centre  (CFC)  etc.  is  provided.  Besides,  financial  assistance upto Rs. 50.00 lakh is also available for setting up of one dye house at district level. The proposals are recommended by the State Government.
- (ii) HANDLOOM  MARKETING  ASSISTANCE is  one  of  the  components  of  National Handloom Development Programme.  In order to provide marketing platform to  the  handloom  agencies/weavers  to  sell  their  products  directly  to  the consumers,  financial  assistance  is  provided  to  the  States/eligible  handloom agencies  for  organising  marketing  events  in  domestic  as  well  as  overseas markets.
- (iii) WEAVERS'  MUDRA  SCHEME: Under  the  Weavers'  Mudra  Scheme,  credit  at concessional interest rate of 6% is provided to the handloom weavers.  Margin money  assistance  to  a  maximum  of  Rs.  10,000  per  weaver  and  credit guarantee  for  a  period  of  3  years  is  also  provided. MUDRA portal has  been developed  in  association  with  Punjab  National  Bank  to  cut  down  delay  in disbursement of funds for margin money and interest subvention.

## (iv) HATHKARGHA SAMVARDHAN SAHAYATA (HSS):

Hathkargha  Samvardhan  Sahayata  (HSS)  was  introduced  on  1st  December 2016  with  an  objective  to  provide  looms/accessories  to  the  weavers  to enhance  their  earnings  through  improved  productivity  and  quality  of  the handloom products. Under the scheme, 90% of the cost of loom/accessory is borne  by  the  Government  of  India  while  remaining  10%  is  borne  by  the beneficiary.  The  Government  of India's  share  is  released  directly  in  the  Bank account of the beneficiary through designated agency.

## (v) EDUCATION OF HANDLOOM WEAVERS AND THEIR CHILDREN:

Ministry  of  Textiles  has  signed  Memorandums  of  Understanding  with  Indira Gandhi  National  Open  University  (IGNOU)  and  National  Institute  of  Open Schooling  (NIOS)  to  secure  educational  facilities  for  the  weavers  and  their families.    NIOS  offers  Secondary  and  Senior  Secondary  level  education  with specialized subjects on design, marketing, business development, etc. through distance learning mode  for handloom  weavers,  whereas  IGNOU  offers continuing  education  programs  through  accessible and  flexible learning opportunities  relevant  to  the  aspirations  of  handloom  weavers  and  their children for career progression.

Ministry  of  Textiles  is  providing  reimbursement  of  75%  of  the  fee  towards admission to NIOS/IGNOU courses in case of SC, ST, BPL, and Women learners belonging to handloom weavers' families.

- (vi) ' INDIA HANDLOOM' BRAND -  During the celebration of 7th August 2015 as National Handloom Day, 'India Handloom' Brand was launched by Hon'ble Prime Minister for branding of high quality handloom products. It promotes production  of  niche handloom  products  with  high  quality,  authentic traditional designs with zero defect and zero effect on environment. Since its launch, 1232 registrations have been issued under 122 product categories and sale of Rs. 722.57 crore has been generated.

Initiatives  with  various  leading  brands  has  been  undertaken  to  bring  out  a separate range of handloom garments in their brand.

- (vii) E-COMMERCE -  In  order  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. A total sales of Rs. 66.20 crore has been reported through the online portal.
- (viii) URBAN  HAATS are  set  up  in  the  big  towns/metropolitan  cities  to  provide adequate  direct  marketing  facilities  to  the  craft  persons/weavers  and eliminate  middle  agencies.    38  such  Urban  Haats  have  been  sanctioned across the country so far.

## B. COMPREHENSIVE HANDLOOM CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT SCHEME:

The Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) is implemented for development of Mega Handloom Clusters covering atleast 15000 to 25,000  handlooms  and  financial  assistance  as  GoI  share  from  Rs.  40.00  to  Rs.70.00 crore is in a period of 5 years.  8 mega handloom clusters taken up as announced in the Budgets i.e. Varanasi, Sivasagar (2008-09), Virudhunagar, Murshidabad (2009-10), Prakasam & Guntur districts and Godda & neighbouring districts (2012-13), Bhagalpur & Trichy (2014-15).

Under the scheme, components  like conducting Diagnostic Study, engaging Designer, Product Development, Corpus for raw material, Construction of Worksheds (for BPL/SC/ST/Women weavers), Skill up-gradation etc. are fully funded by Government of India,  while  the  components  like  Technology  up-gradation,  lighting units  funded  90%  and  other  common  infrastructural  projects  like  Design  Studio, Marketing Complex, Value Addition Centres, Publicity etc., are funded by the GOI to the extent of 80%.

## C. HANDLOOM WEAVERS' COMPREHENSIVE WELFARE SCHEME

Weavers Comprehensive Welfare Scheme (HWCWS) is providing life, accidental and disability insurance coverage under the components Pradhan Mantri Jivan Jyoti Bima Yojana  (PMJJBY),  Pradhan  Mantri  Suraksha  Bima  Yojana  (PMSBY)  and  Converged Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana (MGBBY).

## D. YARN SUPPLY SCHEME:

Yarn Supply Scheme is being implemented throughout the country to make available all  types  of  yarn  at  Mill  Gate  Price.  The  scheme  is  being  implemented  through National Handloom  Development  Corporation. Under the Scheme  freight is reimbursed and depot operating charges @ 2% is given to depot operating agencies. A component of 10% price subsidy also exists on hank yarn, which is applicable on cotton, domestic silk, wool and linen yarn with quantity caps.

(c): The  quantum  of  export  of  Handlooms  during  each  of  the  last  three  years  and  the current year is as under:

| Financial Year               |   Achievements (in Million US $) |
|------------------------------|----------------------------------|
| 2016-17                      |                           357.58 |
| 2017-18                      |                           353.92 |
| 2018-19                      |                           343.43 |
| 2019-20 (April to Aug. 2019) |                           152.03 |

Annexure

| State-wise number of handlooms weavers/workers and number of handicraft artisans/workers enrolled under Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yoajan (PMJJBY) / Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) from 2017-18 to 2019-20 (till date)   | State-wise number of handlooms weavers/workers and number of handicraft artisans/workers enrolled under Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yoajan (PMJJBY) / Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) from 2017-18 to 2019-20 (till date)   | State-wise number of handlooms weavers/workers and number of handicraft artisans/workers enrolled under Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yoajan (PMJJBY) / Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) from 2017-18 to 2019-20 (till date)   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| State                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | Number of handloom weavers/workers enrolled under PMJJBY/PMSBY                                                                                                                                                                               | Numbers of handicraft artisans/workers enrolled under PMJJBY/PMSBY                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Andhra Pradesh                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | 9024                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | 675                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| Assam                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 106                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | 113                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| Bihar                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | 787                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| Chattisgarh                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | 331                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| Gujarat                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      | -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            | 71                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Haryana                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | 171                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| Himachal Pradesh                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 2861                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | 236                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| Jharkhand                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| J&K                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | 464                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | 714                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| Karnataka                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | 1,416                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| Kerala                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 3359                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | 1,502                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| Madhya Pradesh                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | 20                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | 726                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| Maharashtra                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | 102                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | 2,050                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| Odisha                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 9930                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| Punjab                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | 144                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| Rajasthan                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 18                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| Tamil Nadu                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 143819                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 418                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| Uttar Pradesh                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | 11146                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 237                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| Uttarakhand                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | 231                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | 418                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| West Bengal                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | 39113                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 632                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| Total                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 2,20,524                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 10,310                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |

*****