Lok Sabha Question No. 1216 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-14
Subject: Impact of Covid Pandemic on Handloom Sector
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Rahul Gandhi

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1216

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.12.2022

## IMPACT OF COVID PANDEMIC ON HANDLOOM SECTOR

## 1216. SHRI RAHUL GANDHI:

Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंत्री

be pleased to state :

- (a) whether the Government has assessed the impact of the Covid pandemic on the handloom sector, especially the impact on small handloom weavers, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether any programs are being implemented to assist handloom weavers rebuild livelihood opportunities after the pandemic, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government is aware of the widespread sale of counterfeit textiles labelled with Handloom Mark and India Handloom Brand, and Geographical Indication tag, if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon;
- (d) the measures taken to assist handloom weavers obtain certification of authenticity; and
- (e) State-wise details of public awareness programs conducted regarding authenticity of handloom weavers?

## उत्तर

ANSWER

## वस्त्र राज् य मंत्री ( श्रीमती दर्शना जरदोर् ) THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES

(SMT. DARSHANA JARDOSH)

(a) to (d): A specific study for assessment of pandemic impact has been done by the Government. Due to unorganized and traditional nature of handloom sector, such data, if any, pertaining to this sector is dispersed and largely unavailable for centralized quantification.

To overcome the issues faced by handloom workers during Covid 19 pandemic, the Government has taken following steps:-

- i. The Government of  India  announced  a  special  economic  package  viz.  AatmaNirbhar  Bharat Abhiyaan for boosting economy of the country and making India self-reliant. Relief and credit support  measures  were  announced  for  various  sectors  to  revive  their  businesses  and  were available to eligible weavers and Handloom Organizations also.
- ii. The States and UTs were requested for their State Handloom Corporations/Cooperatives/Agencies to make purchases of the finished inventory available with the handloom weavers.
- iii. Steps were taken to on-board weavers on Government e-Market place to enable them to sell their products directly to various Government Departments and organizations.
- iv. Under Weaver MUDRA/Concessional Credit Scheme, margin money assistance for individual weaver and Handloom Organizations; interest subvention and credit guarantee fees on loans for a period of three years are provided.
- v.    Provision has been made for welfare of handloom workers through life & accidental insurance cover,  scholarships  for  higher  education  to  their  wards  etc.  The  guidelines  also  provide  for financial support for Awardee weavers above 60 years of age in indigent circumstances.
- vi. For export promotion of handloom products, Handloom Export Promotion Council has been organizing  International  Fairs.    During  the  year  2021-22,  various  international  marketing fairs/events were organized in physical/virtual mode. Besides, domestic marketing events were also  organized  in  different  parts  of  the  country  for  the  weavers  to  market  and  sell  their products.
- vii. Weavers are facilitated to sell their products online and 23 e-commerce platforms have been associated by Ministry of Textiles under a policy framework.
- viii.    Raw Material Supply Scheme is being implemented throughout the country to make quality Yarn available to Handloom weavers. Under the Scheme, freight charges are reimbursed for all types of yarn; and component of 15% price subsidy is there for cotton hank yarn, domestic silk, wool and linen yarn and blended yarn of natural fibres.
9. (c): No such complaint/incidence has been reported so far.

(d): The  handloom  census  was  conducted  during  the  year  2019-20.  The  authenticity  of  the Handloom workers has been ascertained by seeking validation of the census data by the respective State Govts., and feedback thereupon.

(e): To  create  awareness  among  the  weavers  about  the  new  developments  of  online  process  of registration and QR coded labels. Textiles Committee has during the year 2021 & 2022 organised 36 clusters  Level  Awareness  Programs  (CLAP)  across  India  including  6  CLAP  in  the  N-E  states. State-wise list of CLAP conducted during 2021-22, 2022-23 is given below:

| Sl. No.   | Name of State     |   No. of conducted |
|-----------|-------------------|--------------------|
| 1.        | Andhra Pradesh    |                  3 |
| 2.        | Arunachal Pradesh |                  2 |
| 3.        | Assam             |                  1 |
| 4.        | Bihar             |                  1 |
| 5.        | Haryana           |                  1 |
| 6.        | Himachal Pradesh  |                  1 |
| 7.        | Kerala            |                  3 |
| 8.        | Madhya Pradesh    |                  1 |
| 9.        | Maharashtra       |                  2 |
| 10.       | Odisha            |                  1 |
| 11.       | Rajasthan         |                  1 |
| 12.       | Sikkim            |                  2 |
| 13.       | Tamil Nadu        |                  6 |
| 14.       | Telangana         |                  2 |
| 15.       | Tripura           |                  2 |
| 16.       | Uttarakhand       |                  1 |
| 17.       | Uttar Pradesh     |                  2 |
| 18.       | West Bengal       |                  4 |
| Total     | Total             |                 36 |