Lok Sabha Question No. 5569 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-26
Subject: Condition of Weavers
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Prataprao Govindrao  Patil Chikhalikar

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5569 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2019

## CONDITION OF WEAVERS

## 5569.  SHRI PRATAPRAO PATIL CHIKHLIKAR:

## Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंरी

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  made  any  assessment  regarding  the  pitiable  condition  of weavers in the country, if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) the details of funds released for the welfare of weavers during the last three years, Statewise?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER

## वस्त्र मंरी ( श्रीमती स्मृ तत ज़ूबिन इरानी )

MINISTER OF TEXTILES (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

- (a): To improve the socio economic condition of weavers and to promote the handloom sector, the Office of the Development Commissioner for Handlooms, Ministry of Textiles, is implementing the following schemes 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.

## 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. 689.72 crore as reported on 31-03-2019.

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.34.72 crore has been reported through the online portal as on 31-03-2019.

- (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.

(b): Budgetary  allocation  of  funds  is  not  made  State-wise.    Funds  are  released  to  handloom agencies on receipt of viable proposals and utilisation of previous funds.  However, Scheme-wise details  of  funds  allocated  and  released  in  the  last  three  years  for  implementation  of  above mentioned schemes across the country are indicated at Annexure.

## Statement as referred to in part (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 5569 for answer on 26-7-2019

Scheme-wise funds allocated and released in the last three years is as under:

(Rs. in crore)

| SN   | Name of scheme                                    | 2016-17              | 2016-17        | 2017-18              | 2017-18        | 2018-19              | 2018-19        |
|------|---------------------------------------------------|----------------------|----------------|----------------------|----------------|----------------------|----------------|
|      |                                                   | Funds allocated (RE) | Funds released | Funds allocated (RE) | Funds released | Funds allocated (RE) | Funds released |
| 1    | National Handloom Development Programme           | 167.53               | 153.56         | 140.24               | 135.05         | 138.53               | 119.72         |
| 2    | Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme | 50.00                | 40.11          | 32.50                | 31.82          | 21.50                | 16.38          |
| 3    | Handloom Weavers' Comprehensive Welfare Scheme    | 26.56                | 26.56          | 25.00                | 24.98          | 10.05                | 2.06           |
| 4    | Yarn Supply Scheme                                | 261.50               | 261.35         | 200.00               | 199.84         | 155.41               | 126.84         |
|      | Total                                             | 505.59               | 481.58         | 397.74               | 391.69         | 325.49               | 265.00         |

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