Lok Sabha Question No. 1036 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-22
Subject: Textile and Handloom Workers in the Country
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Su Thirunavukkarasar

## TEXTILE AND HANDLOOM WORKERS IN THE COUNTRY

## 1036. BY SHRI THIRUNAVUKKARASAR. SU.:

Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंरी

be pleased to state:

- (a) the total population of textile and handloom workers in the country;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has  any  plans  to  initiate  a  welfare  fund  and  enforce  welfare  schemes  for  the rehabilitation of textile and handloom workers in the country, particularly in Tamil Nadu;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the funds spent so far in this regard;
- (d) the details of the schemes already in place for the welfare of textile and handloom workers in the country;
- (e) whether there are any roadblocks in providing the financial assistance/ pension/one time financial support for textile and handloom workers; and
- (f) if so, the reasons therefor?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER

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

MINISTER OF TEXTILES (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

- (a): The total number of workers employed in textiles sector is 4.5 crores including 35.22 lakh handloom workers all over the country.
- (b)  to  (d): Government of India is implementing welfare scheme for Powerloom workers i.e., converged Group insurance Scheme for Powerloom weavers/workers on pan India including Tamil Nadu. The details of premium and benefits are as under:
-  AABY - Aam Admi Bima Yojana ;  PMJJBY- Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana ; PMSBY - Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana

| Premium:                 | Premium:              | Premium:              | Premium:              | Premium:                            |
|--------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-------------------------------------|
| Contribution             | 51 to 59 Years of age | 18 to 50 Years of age | 18 to 50 Years of age | 18 to 50 Years of age               |
| Contribution             | *AABY                 | *PMJJBY               | *PMSBY                | *PMSBY                              |
| Beneficiary contribution | Rs.80                 | Rs.80                 | -                     | -                                   |
| LIC                      | Rs.100                | Rs.100                | -                     | -                                   |
| MOT                      | Rs.290                | Rs.150                | Rs.12                 | Rs.12                               |
| Total Premium            | Rs.470                | Rs.342                | Rs.342                | Rs.342                              |
| Benefits:                |                       |                       |                       |                                     |
| Insurance Coverage on    | Schemes               | Schemes               | Total Benefits        | Total Benefits                      |
| Insurance Coverage on    | *PMJJBY               | *PMSBY                | PMJJBY + PMSBY        | *AABY                               |
| Natural Death            | Rs.2,00,000           | ---                   | Rs.2,00,000           | Rs.60,000 (Death due to any reason) |
| Accidental Death         | Rs.2,00,000           | Rs.2,00,000           | Rs.4,00,000           | Rs.60,000 (Death due to any reason) |
| Permanent Disability     | ---                   | Rs.2,00,000           | Rs.2,00,000           | Rs.60,000 (Death due to any reason) |
| Partial Disability       | ---                   | Rs.1,00,000           | Rs.1,00,000           | Rs.60,000 (Death due to any reason) |

## Details of Powerloom workers enrolled and funds spent in Tamil Nadu are as under:

| S. No   | Year     | No. of Powerloom workers enrolled   | No. of Powerloom workers enrolled   | Total   | GOI Contribution Rs.in Cr.   |
|---------|----------|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|---------|------------------------------|
| S. No   | Year     | PMJJBY+ PMSBY                       | AABY                                | Total   | GOI Contribution Rs.in Cr.   |
| 1       | 2017-18  | 49101                               | 2088                                | 51189   | 0.85                         |
| 2       | 2018-19  | 32192                               | 1278                                | 33470   | 0.56                         |
| 3       | 2019-20* | 17952                               | 959                                 | 18911   | 0.31                         |

The Government of India has implemented the Scheme for Textile Industry Worker Hostel (STIWA) launched  in  2014  on  Pilot  basis  for  establishment  of  Worker  hostels  at  textile  parks.  Two  projects  were approved under the scheme one in the State of Tamil Nadu and one in Gujarat. Workers' Hostel at Palladam Hitech Weaving Park, Tamil Nadu has been completed and an amount of Rs.2.91 crore has been released to the project.

|   S.No. | Projects                     | Sanction Date   |   Gol Grant released (Rs. In crores) | Status                |
|---------|------------------------------|-----------------|--------------------------------------|-----------------------|
|       1 | Palladam HiTech Weaving Park | 23.09.2014      |                                 2.91 | Project is completed. |
|       2 | Gujarat Eco Textile Park     | 23.09.2014      |                                 2.74 | Project is completed. |

Further,  the  Government  of  India  is  also  implementing  Handloom  Weavers  Comprehensive Welfare  Scheme  (HWCWS)  across  the  country,  including  the  State  of  Tamil  Nadu,  to  provide  social security  benefits  to  handloom  weavers/workers.    The  scheme  has  two  components  namely  (i)  Life, accidental and disability insurance coverage under PMJJBY, PMSBY and Converged MGBBY and (ii) Health Insurance coverage on the RSBY pattern (Upto 31.03.2018).

- (i) Life, accidental and disability insurance coverage - This scheme is being implemented across the country  to  provide  life  and  accidental  insurance  coverage  to  handloom  weavers/workers  under  the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY)/ Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) for the age group of 18-50 years and converged Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana (MGBBY) for the existing weavers of age group of 51-59 years.  The Insurance benefits under the PMJJBY/PMSBY and converged NGBBY, components of Handloom Weavers Comprehensive Welfare Scheme (HWCWS) are as under:-

| S. No.   | Benefits           | PMJJBY/ PMSBY   | Converged MGBBY   |
|----------|--------------------|-----------------|-------------------|
| (i)      | Natural Death      | Rs.2,00,000/-   | Rs.60,000/-       |
| (ii)     | Accidental Death   | Rs.2,00,000/-   | Rs.1,50,000/-     |
| (iii)    | Total Disability   | Rs.2,00,000/-   | Rs.1,50,000/-     |
| (iv)     | Partial Disability | Rs.1,00,000/-   | Rs.75,000/-       |

## The share of annual premium contribution are as under:

| S.No.   | Share(s)              | Amount   | Amount   |
|---------|-----------------------|----------|----------|
| (i)     | GOI contribution      | Rs.162/- | Rs.290/- |
| (ii)    | Weavers' contribution | Rs.80/-  | Rs. 80/- |
| (iii)   | LIC's contribution    | Rs.100/- | Rs.100/- |
|         | Total premium         | Rs.342/- | Rs.470/- |

- (ii) Health Insurance coverage on RSBY  pattern: Health Insurance Scheme (HIS) was implemented on the pattern of Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare  (MoH&FW)  upto  March,  2018.  With  the  launch  of  Ayushman  Bharat  -  Pradhan  Mantri  Jan Arogya Yojana (ABPMJAY) on 23.09.2018, RSBY has been subsumed in it.

The handloom weavers/workers enrolled during 2016-17 to 2019-20 under PMJJBY/PMSBY & converged MGBBY and Rashtriya Swasthaya Bima Yojana is as under:-

|           | MGBBY   | Conve rged MGB BY   | PMJJB Y& PMSBY   | Conve rged MGBB Y        | PMJJB Y& PMSBY           | Conve rged MGB BY          | PMJJ BY& PMSB Y            | Healthcare facilities on the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana(RSBY)   | Healthcare facilities on the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana(RSBY)   |
|-----------|---------|---------------------|------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
|           | 2016-17 | 2017-18             | 2017-18          | 2018-19 (As on 31.05.19) | 2018-19 (As on 31.05.19) | 2019-20 (As on 31.10.2019) | 2019-20 (As on 31.10.2019) | 2016-17                                                             | 2017-18 Upto March 2018                                             |
| All India | 531981  | 54660               | 115538           | 43,248                   | 1,01,986                 | -                          | 3,000                      | 346349                                                              | 128219                                                              |
| Total     | 531981  | 170198              | 170198           | 1,45,234                 | 1,45,234                 | 3,000                      | 3,000                      | 474568                                                              | 474568                                                              |

The State/UT-wise funds are not Sanctioned/released under the Handloom Weavers Comprehensive  Welfare  Scheme  (HWCWS).    However,  year-wise  funds  sanctioned/released  to  the implementing agencies across the country, including Tamil Nadu, are as under:-

| Year    |   Funds sanctioned/released (Rs. in crore) |
|---------|--------------------------------------------|
| 2016-17 |                                      26.56 |
| 2017-18 |                                      25    |
| 2018-19 |                                       2.05 |
| 2019-20 |                                       7.96 |

- (e) & (f): Government of India had introduced a Scheme Viz. Textile Workers Rehabilitation Fund Scheme (TWRFS) with effect from 15.09.1986 to provide relief to the workers, who are rendered jobless due  to  permanent  closure  of  Non-SSI  Textile  Mills  in  private  sector,  which  are  eligible  as  per  the guidelines under the Scheme.

TWRFS has been merged with the Rajiv Gandhi Shramik Kalyan Yojana (RGSKY) of Ministry of Labour and Employment and discontinued TWRFS w.e.f 01.04.2017. Workers rendered jobless can avail benefits under the above scheme, subject to eligibility.

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