Lok Sabha Question No. 1844 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-29
Subject: Handloom Weavers
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Balak Nath

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1844 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29-11-2019

## HANDLOOM WEAVERS

## 1844.  SHRI BALAK NATH:

Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंरी

be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of employed handloom weavers in the country, State-wise;
- (b) whether  any  special  or  subsidy  has  been  provided  to  the  State  Governments  for  the handloom sector or concessional loans have been provided to the handloom weavers during each of the last three years and the current year;
- (c) if so, the details thereof, State-wise and
- (d) the  State-wise  and  scheme-wise  number  of  handloom  weavers  benefited  during  this period?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER वस्त्र मंरी ( श्रीमती स्मृ तत ज़ूबिन इरानी )

MINISTER OF TEXTILES

(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

- (a): As  per  the  4 th All  India  Handloom  Census  (2019-20),  there  are  26,73,891  handloom weavers and 8,48,621 allied workers in the country.  State-wise number of handloom weavers and allied workers is at Annexure-I .
- (b): The  Office  of  the  Development  Commissioner  for  Handlooms,  Ministry  of  Textiles  is implementing  following  schemes  for  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.

## 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. 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): 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  and  the  current year  for implementation of above mentioned schemes across the country are as under: -

## (Rs. in crore)

| SN   | Name of scheme                                            | 2016-17              | 2016-17        | 2017-18              | 2017-18        | 2018-19              | 2018-19        | 2019-20 (till date)   | 2019-20 (till date)   |
|------|-----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------|----------------|----------------------|----------------|----------------------|----------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
|      |                                                           | Funds allocated (RE) | Funds released | Funds allocated (RE) | Funds released | Funds allocated (RE) | Funds released | Funds allocated       | Funds released        |
| 1    | National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP)            | 167.53               | 153.56         | 140.24               | 135.05         | 138.53               | 119.72         | 135.00                | 88.99                 |
| 2    | Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) | 50.00                | 40.11          | 32.50                | 31.82          | 21.50                | 16.38          | 40.00                 | 6.70                  |
| 3    | Handloom Weavers' Comprehensive Welfare Scheme (HWCWS)    | 26.56                | 26.56          | 25.00                | 24.98          | 10.05                | 2.06           | 20.00                 | 7.96                  |
| 4    | Yarn Supply Scheme (YSS)                                  | 261.50               | 261.35         | 200.00               | 199.84         | 155.41               | 126.84         | 195.00                | 98.93                 |
|      | Total                                                     | 505.59               | 481.58         | 397.74               | 391.69         | 325.49               | 265.00         | 390.00                | 202.58                |

(d): State-wise  and  Scheme-wise  number  of  handloom  weavers  benefited  under  various schemes of this office in the last three years and the current year are indicated at Annexure-II .

Statement referred to in part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1844 for answer on 29-11-2019.

Statement showing State-wise number of weavers and allied weavers in the country as per the 4 th All India Handloom Census (2019-20)

| S.N.             | State             |   No. of allied workers |   No. of weavers |
|------------------|-------------------|-------------------------|------------------|
| 1                | ARUNACHAL PRADESH |                   17016 |            77600 |
| 2                | ASSAM             |                  176453 |          1107428 |
| 3                | BIHAR             |                    5631 |             7216 |
| 4                | JHARKHAND         |                   10133 |            12364 |
| 5                | MANIPUR           |                   12203 |           212481 |
| 6                | MEGHALAYA         |                    1553 |            41221 |
| 7                | MIZORAM           |                   10242 |            17298 |
| 8                | NAGALAND          |                    7534 |            35950 |
| 9                | ODISHA            |                   64364 |            53472 |
| 10               | SIKKIM            |                      65 |              632 |
| 11               | TRIPURA           |                   25712 |           111927 |
| 12               | WEST BENGAL       |                  264791 |           366656 |
|                  | Total East Zone   |                  595697 |          2044245 |
| 1                | CHHATTISGARH      |                    7426 |            14077 |
| 2                | GUJARAT           |                     422 |            10179 |
| 3                | GOA               |                       4 |               22 |
| 4                | MADHYAPRADESH     |                    5267 |            12805 |
| 5                | MAHARASHTRA       |                     627 |             2882 |
|                  | Total West Zone   |                   13746 |            39965 |
| 1                | DELHI             |                    1049 |             3236 |
| 2                | HARYANA           |                   11128 |            14414 |
| 3                | HIMACHAL PRADESH  |                     477 |            13211 |
| 4                | JAMMU AND KASHMIR |                    7544 |            15784 |
| 5                | PUNJAB            |                     338 |              631 |
| 6                | RAJASTHAN         |                    1403 |             8687 |
| 7                | UTTARAKHAND       |                    4594 |             7967 |
| 8                | UTTAR PRADESH     |                   60179 |           130778 |
|                  | Total North Zone  |                   86712 |           194708 |
| 1                | ANDHRA PRADESH    |                   49785 |           127662 |
| 2                | KARNATAKA         |                   27616 |            27175 |
| 3                | KERALA            |                    6604 |            15480 |
| 4                | PUDUCHERRY        |                     782 |              908 |
| 5                | TAMIL NADU        |                   45757 |           197818 |
| 6                | TELANGANA         |                   21922 |            25930 |
| Total South Zone | Total South Zone  |                  152466 |           394973 |
| Grand Total      | Grand Total       |                  848621 |          2673891 |

Statement referred to in part (d) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1844 for answer on 29-112019

State-wise and scheme-wise number of handloom weavers benefited under various schemes in the last three years (2016-17 to 2018-19) and the current year (2019-20 till 30-9-2019).

| SN         | States            | NHDP& CHCDS                                  | NHDP                                     | NHDP                                                      | HWCWS                                      | HWCWS                                                |
|------------|-------------------|----------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|
| SN         | States            | No. of beneficiaries of Block Level Clusters | No. of beneficiaries of Marketing events | No. of beneficiaries of concessional loans (MUDRA Scheme) | No. of weavers enrolled under PMJJY/ PMSBY | No. of weavers enrolled under MGBBY/ converged MGBBY |
| East Zone  | East Zone         |                                              |                                          |                                                           |                                            |                                                      |
| 1          | Arunachal Pradesh | 4180                                         | 11000                                    | -                                                         | -                                          | -                                                    |
| 2          | Assam             | 45546                                        | 134293                                   | 587                                                       | 106                                        | 67572                                                |
| 3          | Bihar             | 5114                                         | 7000                                     | 453                                                       | -                                          | 1797                                                 |
| 4          | Jharkhand         | 9740                                         | 0                                        | 239                                                       | -                                          | 485                                                  |
| 5          | Manipur           | 11195                                        | 34100                                    | 18                                                        | -                                          | 662                                                  |
| 6          | Meghalaya         | 0                                            | 2000                                     | 0                                                         | -                                          | 0                                                    |
| 7          | Mizoram           | 634                                          | 14500                                    | 09                                                        | -                                          | 0                                                    |
| 8          | Nagaland          | 1140                                         | 44900                                    | 55                                                        | -                                          | 0                                                    |
| 9          | Orissa            | 5200                                         | 37000                                    | 2876                                                      | 9930                                       | 28204                                                |
| 10         | Sikkim            | 0                                            | 19400                                    | 0                                                         | -                                          | 29                                                   |
| 11         | Tripura           | 341                                          | 39930                                    | 09                                                        | -                                          | 482                                                  |
| 12         | West Bengal       | 26793                                        | 10200                                    | 1080                                                      | 39113                                      | 58583                                                |
|            | Total East Zone   | 109883                                       | 354323                                   | 5326                                                      | 49149                                      | 157814                                               |
| West Zone  | West Zone         |                                              |                                          |                                                           |                                            |                                                      |
| 1          | Chhattisgarh      | 774                                          | 15000                                    | 649                                                       | 331                                        | -                                                    |
| 2          | Gujarat           | 357                                          | 0                                        | 289                                                       | -                                          | 8835                                                 |
| 3          | Goa               | 0                                            | 0                                        | 0                                                         | -                                          |                                                      |
| 4          | Madhya Pradesh    | 7347                                         | 21490                                    | 242                                                       | 20                                         | 658                                                  |
| 5          | Maharashtra       | 4168                                         | 31000                                    | 193                                                       | 102                                        | 500                                                  |
|            | Total West Zone   | 12646                                        | 67490                                    | 1373                                                      | 453                                        | 9993                                                 |
| North Zone | North Zone        |                                              |                                          |                                                           |                                            |                                                      |
| 1          | Delhi             | 0                                            | 2240                                     | 0                                                         | -                                          | 458                                                  |
| 2          | Haryana           | 14                                           | 0                                        | 206                                                       | -                                          | 126                                                  |
| 3          | Himachal Pradesh  | 1643                                         | 0                                        | 173                                                       | 2861                                       | 6005                                                 |
| 4          | Jammu &Kashmir    | 2468                                         | 12000                                    | 9627                                                      | 464                                        | 396                                                  |
| 5          | Punjab            | 0                                            | 0                                        | 1                                                         | -                                          | -                                                    |
| 6          | Rajasthan         | 554                                          | 7820                                     | 314                                                       | 18                                         | 1963                                                 |
| 7          | Uttar Pradesh     | 13424                                        | 80500                                    | 3529                                                      | 11146                                      | 13504                                                |
| 8          | Uttarakhand       | 280                                          | 16820                                    | 84                                                        | 231                                        | 653                                                  |
|            | Total North Zone  | 18383                                        | 119380                                   | 13934                                                     | 14720                                      | 23105                                                |

| SN         | States                                                      | NHDP& CHCDS                                  | NHDP                                     | NHDP                                                      | HWCWS                                      | HWCWS                                                |
|------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|
|            |                                                             | No. of beneficiaries of Block Level Clusters | No. of beneficiaries of Marketing events | No. of beneficiaries of concessional loans (MUDRA Scheme) | No. of weavers enrolled under PMJJY/ PMSBY | No. of weavers enrolled under MGBBY/ converged MGBBY |
| South Zone | South Zone                                                  |                                              |                                          |                                                           |                                            |                                                      |
| 1          | Andhra Pradesh                                              | 5366                                         | 45000                                    | 22322                                                     | 9024                                       | 58175                                                |
| 2          | Karnataka                                                   | 2777                                         | 29000                                    | 3528                                                      | -                                          | 52757                                                |
| 3          | Kerala                                                      | 1030                                         | 13000                                    | 571                                                       | 3359                                       | 11180                                                |
| 4          | Puducherry                                                  | 0                                            | 0                                        | 0                                                         | -                                          | 903                                                  |
| 5          | Tamilnadu                                                   | 28626                                        | 54100                                    | 68727                                                     | 143819                                     | 308964                                               |
| 6          | Telangana                                                   | 1779                                         | 46000                                    | 3279                                                      | -                                          | 6998                                                 |
|            | Total                                                       | 39578                                        | 187100                                   | 98157                                                     | 156202                                     | 438977                                               |
| 1          | Beneficiaries covered through other National Level agencies | -                                            | 425250                                   | -                                                         | -                                          | -                                                    |
|            | Grand Total                                                 | 180490                                       | 1153543                                  | 118790                                                    | 220524                                     | 629889                                               |

Legends: PMJJY/PMSBY- Pradhan Mantri Jivan Jyoti Bima Yojana/Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, MGBBY- Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana.

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