Lok Sabha Question No. 981 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-08
Subject: Financial Assistance to Handloom Weavers/Group
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Gaddam Ranjith Reddy

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 981 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.02.2023

## FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO HANDLOOM WEAVERS/GROUP

## 981. DR. G. RANJITH REDDY:

## Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंत्री

be pleased to state :

- (a) whether the Government is implementing National Handloom Development Programme for welfare of traditional handloom weavers and workers in the country;
- (b) whether it is also a fact that the Government provides raw material at cheaper rate for above weavers and workers;
- (c) if so, the details of financial assistance provided to eligible handloom weavers/groups during the last three years, year-wise and State-wise; and
- (d)  the  manner  in  which  the  Government  is  helping  weavers  to  market  their  handloom  products, including overseas exports?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER

## वस्त्र राज् य मंत्री ( श्रीमती दर्शना जरदोर् )

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES (SMT. DARSHANA JARDOSH)

- (a): Ministry  of  Textiles  is  implementing  'National  Handloom  Development  Programme'  for development of handloom sector and welfare of weavers across the country.  Under the scheme, need based financial assistance is provided for integrated and holistic development of handlooms.
- (b) & (c): Raw Material Supply Scheme (RMSS) is being implemented throughout the country to make Yarn available to Handloom weavers. Under the Scheme, freight charges are reimbursed for all types of yarn and 15% price subsidy (with quantity caps) is given for cotton hank yarn, domestic silk, wool, linen yarn and blended yarn of natural fibres.

Funds are sanctioned directly to  Implementing Agency (IA) under RMSS. Since the procurement of yarn is by individual entities, irrespective of where they come from, State-wise data is not maintained. The details of financial assistance during last three years and current year are as under:

| Year    | Funds released (Rs. In Crore)   |
|---------|---------------------------------|
| 2019-20 | 142.21                          |
| 2020-21 | 60.32                           |
| 2021-22 | 89.53                           |
| 2022-23 | 102.09 (upto January, 2023)     |

(d): Ministry of Textiles has been implementing Handloom Marketing Assistance (HMA) scheme as a  component of National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP) across the country to provide marketing support to the handloom agencies/weavers to sell their products directly to the customers.

Besides the above, Government has taken the following initiatives to promote the handloom sector:

-  Various  domestic  marketing  events  are  organised  in  different  parts  of  the  country  for  the weavers to  market  and  sell  their  products.  Around  200  marketing  events  are  organised  every year at National, State and District levels to provide marketing avenues for the weavers.
-  For export promotion of handloom products, Handloom Export Promotion Council (HEPC) has been participating/organizing various international marketing fairs/events. Recently, HEPC has participated in international expos viz. Domotex (Germany), Who's Next (France) & Ambiente (Germany)  for  export  promotion  of  handlooms.  Thematic  display  was  organised  at  Madrid (Spain)  &  London (England) on the occasion of 8 th National  Handloom Day  on 07 th August, 2022.
-  Weavers and artisans have been on-boarded on Government e-Market (GeM) place to enable them sell their products directly to various Government Departments and organizations. So far about 1.50 lakh weavers have been on boarded on the GeM portal.

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