Lok Sabha Question No. 1006 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-22
Subject: Upliftment of Handicrafts
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Kunwar Danish Ali

## UPLIFTMENT OF HANDICRAFTS

## 1006.    SHRI KUNWAR DANISH ALI:

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

(a) the  details  of  financial  assistance  granted  by  the  Government  for  betterment  and upliftment of handicrafts in the country, especially for Uttar Pradesh during the last five years;

(b) whether the Government has formulated any comprehensive scheme for development of handicraft industry in the country, especially in Uttar Pradesh; and

- (c) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government in this regard?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER वस्त्र मंरी ( श्रीमती स्त्म ृ तत ज़ू बिन इरानी )

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

(a): Yes Sir, Financial assistance is provided to Handicrafts artisans under Direct Benefit to Artisans under following schemes of Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles:

(i) Mudra Loan with Interest Subvention & Margin Money for Handicrafts Artisans :

Under Mudra Loans assistance to artisans/weavers with  Interest subvention of 6 % for a period of 3 years to a maximum limit  of Rs.100000/- to meet their credit requirements. Further to encourage the artisans to avail the facility of MUDRA loan, 20% of MUDRA loan amount is also being provided as Margin money in their loan amount not exceeding to Rs.10,000/-. Handicrafts Service Centers are facilitating artisans in availing the credit facility by mobilizing them, creating awareness & submitting applications to the Banks.

(ii) Support to Artisans in Indigent Circumstances (Pension Scheme) :

This scheme provides Financial Assistance to awardees artisans who   are the recipient of Shilp  Guru  Award/  National  Award/  Nation  Merit  Certificate  holders/  State  Award  in handicrafts  and  are  not  less  than  60  years  of  age  having  annual  income  less  then  Rs. 50,000.  Financial  assistance  of  Rs.  3,500/-  P.M.  is  given  to  Master  Craftsperson  in Indigent Circumstances.

- (iii) Insurance Scheme for Handicrafts Artisans :

Handicrafts  artisans  /workers  in  the  age  group  of  18-50  years  are  being  provided  life, accident  and  disability  cover  under  the  PMJJBY  &  PMSBY.  Group  of  handicrafts artisans /workers in the age group of 5l-59 years already enrolled under the Aam Admi Bima Yojana (AABY) are being continued to get covered under the Converged Modified Aam Admi Bima Yojana (Converged AABY).

- (iv) MOU with NIOS and IGNOU :

An MOU has been signed between Ministry of Textiles and National Institute of open schooling (NIOS) and MoU signed between Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)  and  the Office of the Development  Commissioner  (Handicrafts) for collaboration in the area of education for Handicraft artisans and their children wherein reimbursement of 75% of the fee for SC/ST/BPL and the women artisans is being done. In  the  MOU  there  is  provision  for  designing  courses  exclusively  for  the  handicrafts artisans  and  their  children.  Accordingly,  NIOS  has  been  sanctioned  15  training programme  in  Zari  Zardozi  craft  in  the  Varanasi  region  under  the  component  of Training  through  Established  Institutions  of  Human  Resource  Development  Scheme. So far, 99 Scheduled Caste artisans have completed the training and are practicing the craft at present with enhanced earning.

- (b) & (c): Yes  Sir,  The  Government  implements  various  schemes  for  promotion  and development  of  handicrafts  sector  under  ' National  Handicraft  Development  Programme (NHDP)' and Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS).

## The NHDP has following components:

- 1) Base  Line  Survey  &  Mobilization  of  Artisans  under  Ambedkar  Hastshilp  Vikas Yojana,
- 2) Design & Technology Up gradation,
- 3) Human Resource Development ,
- 4) Direct Benefit to Artisans,
- 5) Infrastructure and Technology Support,
- 6) Research and Development,
- 7) Marketing Support & Services.

## The CHCDS has following components:

- 1) Mega Cluster
- 2) Special  projects  under  Integrated  Development  and  Promotion  of  Handicraft (IDPH).

The  Government  has  taken  imitative  to  implement  Cluster  development  project  under Ambedkar hastshilp  Vikas Yojna(AHVY) for the  overall development of  artisans   in Uttar Pradesh. Total 62 Clusters are sanctioned  during last three  years in Uttar Pradesh where  31000  artisans  are  being  benefitted.  The  Government  has  taken  initiative  under Comprehensive  Handicrafts  Cluster  Development  Scheme  (CHCDS), whereas 4 Handicrafts  Mega  Cluster  at  Mirzapur  -Bhadhoi,  Moradabad,  Bareilly  &    Lucknow  in Uttar Pradesh have been sanctioned.

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