Lok Sabha Question No. 5630 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-26
Subject: Handicraft and Handloom Industry
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Sunil Kumar Pintu

## HANDICRAFT AND HANDLOOM INDUSTRY

## 5630.  SHRI SUNIL KUMAR PINTU:

## Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंरी

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any survey has been conducted regarding the status  of handicraft and handloom industry in Bihar during the last three years;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the steps  taken/being taken to revive/promote handicraft and handloom industry in the said state?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER

## वस्त्र मंरी ( श्रीमती स्मृ तत ज़ूबिन इरानी )

MINISTER OF TEXTILES (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a)  to  (c): Yes  Sir,  the  Government  has  launched  a  country  wide  campaign  to  identify  and  register handicraft  artisans  under  'Pahchan'  initiative.    Till  now  total  24.04  lakhs  artisans  have  been  enrolled from all over India, whereas in the state of Bihar 120849 artisans  have been enrolled.  To develop, revive and promote handicrafts and handloom sector in the State, Office of the Development Commissioner for Handicrafts  and  Handlooms  provides  financial  assistance  under  'National  Handicraft  Development Programme (NHDP)' & Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS)/ 'National Handloom  Development  Programme  (NHDP)'  and  Comprehensive  Handloom  Cluster  Development Scheme  (CHCDS)  in  various  parts  of  the  country  including  the  State  of  Bihar  on  receipt  of  viable proposals  from  the  State  Government  of  Bihar.      Details  of  schemes  and  activities  undertaken  are  as under:-

## HANDICRAFT SECTOR

The National Handicraft Development Programme has following components:

- (i) The Scheme 'Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojana (Base Line Survey & Mobilization of Artisans)' aims  to  promote  Indian  handicrafts  by  developing  artisans  clusters  into  professionally  managed and  self-reliant  community  enterprise  on  the  principles  of  effective  member  participation  and mutual cooperation.
- (ii) The  Scheme  'Design  &  Technology  Upgradation'  aims  to  upgrade  artisans  skills  through development  of  innovative  designs  and  prototypes  products  for  overseas  market,  revival  of endangered crafts and preservation of heritage etc.
- (iii)The  Scheme  'Human  Resource  Development'  has  been  formulated  to  provide  qualified  and trained workforce to the handicraft sector.
- (iv) The  Scheme  'Direct  Benefit  to  Artisans'  envisages  welfare  measures  like  Health  and  Life insurance,  recognition,  extending  credit  facilities,  supply  of  modern  tools  and  equipment  to  the artisans etc.
- (v) The  Scheme  'Infrastructure  and  Technology  Support'  aims  to  development  of  world  class infrastructure in the country to support handicraft production, and enhance the product quality and cost to enable it to compete in the global market.
- (vi) The  Scheme  'Research  and  Development'  was  introduced  to  conduct  surveys  and  studies  of important  crafts  and  make  in-depth  analysis  of  specific  aspects  and  problems  of  Handicrafts  in order to generate useful inputs to aid policy planning and fine tune the ongoing initiatives.
- (vii) The Scheme 'Marketing Support & Services' was introduced to promote and provide financial assistance is provided to artisans to participate in domestic and international craft exhibitions/seminars in metropolitan cities/state capitals / places of tourist  or  commercial interest/other places.

The CHCDS  has  two  components  namely  Mega  Cluster  &  Special projects under Integrated Development and Promotion of Handicraft (IDPH):

- (i) Mega cluster approach is a drive to scale up the infrastructural and production chain at Handicrafts clusters.  The  prospects  of  this  sector  lie  in  infrastructural  upgradation,  modernization  of  the machinery and product diversification and Innovative manufacturing as well as, furthered by brand building of the native products hold the key to creating a niche market for the products manufactured by the clusters
- (ii) Special projects under Integrated Development and Promotion of Handicraft (IDPH) was introduced to provide adequate infrastructure for production, value addition and quality assurance for handicrafts and  to  develop  handicrafts  as  a  sustainable  and  remunerative  livelihood  option  for  artisans  in  the state.

The following activities have been undertaken under 'National Handicrafts Development Programme' in the State of Bihar in the last three years:-

1. There are approx. 1.30 lakhs artisans in the state of Bihar.   Major crafts of Bihar are Madhubani Painting, Stone Carving, Wood Carving, Applique, Sujini,Jute,   Embroidery, Sikki, Lac Bangles, Paper Machie & Zari.
2. Five  crafts  registered  under  Geographical  Indication  in  state  of  Bihar  are  Khatwa  Patch  Work, Applique, Madhubani paintings,  Sujini Embroidery and  Sikki Grass.
3. An Integrated Development and Promotion of Handicrafts (IDPH) project in Bihar sanctioned in the year  2016-17  to  Upendra  Maharathi  Shilp  Anusandhan  Sansthan  for  setting  up  of  15  Common Facilitation  Centres,  45  Design  Development  Workshops,  30  Integrated  Design  and  Development Projects, 20 Handicrafts Technical Training Programmes, 10 Seminar/Workshops, 02 International Workshops,  06  Base  Line  Survey  and  Mobilization,16  Exhibitions  &  several  capacity  building programmes conducted.  The project is under implementation and will benefit 16500 artisans at the project cost of Rs. 30 crores with release of Rs.11.30 crores.
4. Under Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojana Scheme, 04 clusters and 01 Sahyog Shivir implemented and 275 toolkits have been distributed with project cost of Rs.59.53 lakhs benefitting 4908 artisans during 2016-17 to 2018-19.
5. Under Research & Development Scheme, 03 Workshop/Seminar & 02 Study/Others programmes implemented with a project of cost Rs.12.16 lakhs benefitting 50 artisans during 2016-17 to 201819.
6. Under Marketing Support and Services Scheme, 04 Gandhi Shilp Bazaars, 04 Craft Bazaars & 02 Exhibitions organised with a total project cost of Rs. 129.60  lakhs benefitting 1146 during 2016-17 to 2018-19.
7. Under Design & Technology Upgradation Scheme, 01 Integrated Design Development & 03 Design Development Workshop implemented with a project of cost Rs.39.23 lakhs benefitting 359 artisans during 2016-17 to 2018-19.
8. Under Human Resource Development Scheme, 13 Handicraft Technical Training Programme, 15 Guru Shishya Parampara implemented with a project cost of Rs.120.39 lakhs benefitting 485 artisans during 2016-17 to 2018-19.
9. There  are  4  Aspirational  Districts  in  the  state  of  bihar  i.e.  Muzaffarpur,  Gaya,  Aurangabad  and Purnea wherein  01 Study, 01 Exhibition,  01 Study, 01 Seminar/Workshop, 03 Craft Awareness Programme, 01 Handicraft Technical Training Programme, 02 Guru Shishya Parampara,  01 Craft Awareness Programme,  01 IDPH conducted to the tune of Rs.152.09 lakhs benefitting 4340 artisans during 2014-15 to 2018-19.
10. There are two adopted culsters in the state of Bihar i.e. Patharkati cluster, Gaya in Stone Carving craft  for  the  benefit  of  525  SC/OBC  artisans  and  Muzaffarpur  cluster,  Madhubani  in  Lac bangles/Jewellery craft for the benefit of 750 minority artisans.

## HANDLOOM SECTOR

- 1) National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP)
- a) Block level cluster
- b) Handloom Marketing Assistance
- c) Weavers Mudra Scheme
- d) Hathkargha Samvardhan Sahayata (HSS)
- e) Education of handloom weavers and their children
- f) India Handloom Brand
- g) e-Commerce
- h) Urban Haats
- 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.

The following activities have been undertaken under 'National Handloom Development Programme' in the State of Bihar in the last three years:-

1. 12 Block level Clusters have been sanctioned covering 5,114 handloom weavers.
2. The Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) is being implemented for development of Mega Handloom Clusters covering atleast 15000 to 25,000 handlooms and financial assistance as GoI share is provided from Rs. 40.00 to Rs.70.00 crore in a period of 5 years.  Presently 1 Mega Handloom Cluster has been sanctioned at Bhagalpur.  The Cluster covers 5,084 handlooms.
3. 03  Marketing  events  have  been  sanctioned  for  promotion  of  sale  of  handloom  products  benefiting  7000 beneficiaries.
4. In  order  to  prevent  imitation  of  handloom  products,  'Bhagalpur  Silk'  has  been  registered  under  GI (Geographical Indications) Act.
5. In order to provide loan to the handloom weavers on concessional rate of interest for expanding their business, 435 MUDRA loans have been sanctioned involving loan amount of Rs. 2.53 crore.
6. In order to provide benefit of insurance, 1797 handloom weavers have been covered under Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana (MGBBY).
7. In  order  to  provide  health  insurance,  381  handloom  weavers  have  been  covered  under  Health  Insurance Scheme.
8. In order to provide yarn to the handloom weavers at mill gate price/subsidized rates, 01 yarn depot has been established in the State of Bihar. 1.45 lakh kg of yarn worth Rs. 7.08 crore has been supplied to the weavers of Bihar at Mill Gate Price and 0.64 lakh kg of yarn worth Rs. 6.35 crore has been supplied under 10% Subsidy component of Yarn Supply Scheme.
9. To  facilitate  the  handloom  weavers  for  obtaining  MUDRA  loan,  yarn  passbooks,  looms  and  accessories, enrollment for National Institute of Open Schooling and Indira Gandhi National Open University courses etc., 12 Hasthkala Sahyog Shivirs were organized in handloom clusters/pockets during 7th to 17th October 2017 and 19th to 24th Feb 2018.