Lok Sabha Question No. 2170 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-23
Subject: Benefits of Weavers/Textile Weavers
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Nusrat Jahan Ruhi

## BENEFITS OF WEAVERS/TEXTILE WEAVERS

## 2170.   SHRIMATI NUSRAT JAHAN RUHI:

## Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंत्री

be pleased to state :

(a) whether the Government has announced any schemes for the benefit of weavers in the country during the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(b) whether demonetisation and current COVID-19 pandemic has affected the weavers of the country massively and if so, the details thereof?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER

## वस्त्र मंत्री ( श्रीमती स्मृतत ज़ूबिन इरानी )

MINISTER OF TEXTILES

## (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) & (b): The following are the steps taken by the Government of India, Ministry of  Textiles in view of the difficulties being faced by the handloom weavers due to the COVID 19 pandemic:

The Government of India has announced a special economic package viz . Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan for boosting economy of the country and making India self-reliant. Relief and credit support measures have been announced for various sectors including MSMEs. The weavers 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.
2. 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.
3. iii) A  social  media  campaign  #Vocal  4  handmade  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.  A social media campaign #Vocal 4 handmade 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.
4. 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 'Aatma Nirbhar Bharat', the vision of our Hon'ble Prime Minister, Handloom Export  Promotion  Council  has  endeavored  to  virtually  connect  the  Handloom  Weavers  and  exporters  from 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) Apart from the above initiatives, Ministry of Textiles is implementing following schemes through the Offices of Development  Commissioner  (Handlooms)  for  overall  development  of  handlooms  and  welfare  of  handloom weavers across the country: -
- 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.

## 1. 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 organizing marketing events in domestic as well as overseas markets.
- (iii) WEAVER MUDRA SCHEME: Under the Weaver 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 to the supplier through Weavers' Service Centre.

## (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. The programme envisages 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, 1590 registrations have been issued under 184 product categories and sale of Rs. 926.23 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) 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.  39 such Urban Haats have been sanctioned across the country so far.

## 2. COMPREHENSIVE HANDLOOM CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT SCHEME:

The Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) is targeted at development of Mega Handloom Clusters  in  clearly  identifiable  geographical  locations  covering  atleast  15000  handlooms  with  the  Government  of  India (GoI) contribution upto Rs.40 crore per cluster over a period of 5 years. Components such as conducting diagnostic study, corpus for raw material, etc., are fully funded by the Government of India (GoI) whereas components like lighting units, technological up-gradation of looms and accessories are 90% funded by the GoI.  Other components such as creation of infrastructure for design studio/ marketing complex/garmenting unit, marketing development, assistance for exports and publicity  are  80%  funded  by  the  GoI.    08  Mega  Handloom  Clusters  viz.  Varanasi  (Uttar Pradesh),  Sivasagar  (Assam), Virudhunagar(Tamil  Nadu),  Murshidabad  (West  Bengal),  Prakasam  &  Guntur  districts  (Andhra  Pradesh),  Godda  & neighbouring districts (Jharkhand), Bhagalpur (Bihar) and Trichy (Tamil Nadu) have been taken up for development.

## 3. 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).

## 4. 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.