Lok Sabha Question No. 4527 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-19
Subject: Handloom Weavers
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Ravi Kishan Shukla, Ravindra Kushawaha, Ramdas Chandrabhanji Tadas

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4527 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19-07-2019

## HANDLOOM WEAVERS

## 4527. SHRI RAVI KISHAN: SHRI RAVINDRA KUSHAWAHA: SHRI RAMDAS C. TADAS:

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

- a) whether the Government has ascertained the number of handloom weavers in various States including  Rajasthan,  Uttar  Pradesh  and  Maharashtra,  if  so,  the  number  of  such  workers identified so far;
- b) the number of sick weavers' co-operative societies in the said States at present;
- c) the details of the schemes, if any, for revival of these societies;
- d) whether the Government is aware of the supply of mill manufactured printed sarees in the market which are copying the handloom designs and affecting handloom sector adversely;
- e) if so, the specific steps taken by the Government to check it; and
- f) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to save the handloom industry and secure the livelihood of thousands of handloom weavers during the last three years?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER

## वस्त्र मंरी ( श्रीमती स्मृ तत ज़ू बिन इरानी )

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

(a): As per 3 rd handloom census, there are 43.31 Lakh handloom weavers and allied workers in the  country,  including  Rajasthan,  Uttar  Pradesh  and  Maharashtra.  A  Statement  showing  State-wise number of handloom weavers and workers is at Annexure-I.

(b) & (c): The  weavers  cooperative  societies  come  under  the  purview  of  State  Governments. However based on the reports received, so far 1477 societies are not active in the States of Rajasthan (736), Uttar Pradesh (324) and Maharashtra (417).

(d) to (f): The  Government  has  promulgated  the  Handlooms  (Reservation  of  Articles  for Production) Act, 1985 to protect the interest of handlooms weavers in the country. 11 textiles articles are exclusively reserved with some technical specifications for production on handlooms. Implementing agencies carry out powerloom inspections to check any violation of the Act. Central Assistance  is  also  provided  under  the  Scheme  to  the  eligible  State  Governments  for  effective implementation of the Act. An amount of Rs. 761.67 Lakh has been released during the last three years to the ten eligible State Governments to implement the Act.

The  Government  of  India,  Ministry  of  Textiles  is  implementing  following  schemes  for promotion & 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.  Those  cooperative  societies  which  are  not  functioning  well  can  also  improve  their performance by utilizing the assistance given under these schemes.

## 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 1 st 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  7 th 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 3103-2019.

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 (200910),  Prakasam&  Guntur  districts  and  Godda&  neighboring  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 and 3oolen yarn with quantity caps.

Statement referred to in part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred question No. 4527 for answer on 19.07.2019.

Details of Statewise number of handloom weavers and allied workers as per 3 rd handloom census of 2009-10

| SN   | State             | No. of handloom weavers &allied workers   |
|------|-------------------|-------------------------------------------|
| 1    | Andhra Pradesh    | 2,89,809                                  |
| 2    | Arunachal Pradesh | 33,041                                    |
| 3    | Assam             | 16,43,453                                 |
| 4    | Bihar             | 43,392                                    |
| 5    | Chhattisgarh      | 8,191                                     |
| 6    | Delhi             | 2,738                                     |
| 7    | Gujarat           | 11,009                                    |
| 8    | Haryana           | 7,967                                     |
| 9    | Himachal Pradesh  | 13,458                                    |
| 10   | Jammu &Kashmir    | 33,209                                    |
| 11   | Jharkhand         | 21,160                                    |
| 12   | Karnataka         | 89,256                                    |
| 13   | Kerala            | 14,679                                    |
| 14   | Madhya Pradesh    | 14,761                                    |
| 15   | Maharashtra       | 3,418                                     |
| 16   | Manipur           | 2,18,753                                  |
| 17   | Mizoram           | 43,528                                    |
| 18   | Meghalaya         | 13,612                                    |
| 19   | Nagaland          | 66,490                                    |
| 20   | Odisha            | 1,14,106                                  |
| 21   | Pondicherry       | 2,803                                     |
| 22   | Punjab            | 2,636                                     |
| 23   | Rajasthan         | 31,958                                    |
| 24   | Sikkim            | 568                                       |
| 25   | Tamil Nadu        | 3,52,321                                  |
| 26   | Telangana         | 66,029                                    |
| 27   | Tripura           | 1,37,177                                  |
| 28   | Uttar Pradesh     | 2,57,783                                  |
| 29   | Uttrakhand        | 15,468                                    |
| 30   | West Bengal       | 7,79,103                                  |
|      | Total             | 43,31,876                                 |

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