Lok Sabha Question No. 2461 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-21
Subject: Low Income of Weavers
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Badruddin Ajmal

## LOW INCOME OF WEAVERS

## 2461. SHRI M. BADRUDDIN AJMAL:

## Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंत्री

## be pleased to state :

(a) whether it is a fact that according to the Handloom Census, approximately 67 per cent of the weavers still earn less than Rs.5,000 per month which is less than the amount that an unskilled worker earns as per the minimum wage rule;

(b) whether the problem of low income has resulted in a decrease in the overall number of weavers as the existing weavers are not showing an interest in handing over the tradition to their next generations;

(c) the remedial measures taken for welfare of handloom workers who are carrying forward India's rich cultural heritage; and

(d) the details of the quantum of fund allocated/ utilized for welfare of weavers during the last five years and the current year?

## उत्तर

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

## (SMT. DARSHANA JARDOSH)

(a): Handloom Weaving is mainly an individual based household activity to which Minimum Wages Act is not applicable.

(b): Total  number  of  household  engaged  in  handloom  activities  (Weaving  and  Allied  activities)  has increased to 31,44,839 as per 4 th All India Handloom Census 2019-20 compared to 3 rd Handloom Census of India 2009-10 in which it was 27,83,271.

(c) & (d): To  support  the  Handloom  sector  and  remove  the  difficulties  faced  by  the  handloom weavers, the Ministry of Textiles is implementing the following schemes across the country:

1. National Handloom Development Programme;
2. Raw Material Supply Scheme;

Under the above schemes, financial assistance is provided to the eligible handloom agencies/weavers for raw materials, common infrastructure development, marketing of handloom products in domestic/overseas markets, Weaver MUDRA Loans etc.

The details of funds allocated/utilized under these schemes during the last five years and the current year are as follows: -

(Rs. In Crore)

| S. No.   | Name Scheme                             | 2017-18   | 2017-18    | 2018-19   | 2018-19   | 2019-20   | 2019-20   | 2020-21   | 2020-21   | 2021-22   | 2021-22   | 2022-23(upto 31.10.2022)   | 2022-23(upto 31.10.2022)   |
|----------|-----------------------------------------|-----------|------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|----------------------------|----------------------------|
| S. No.   | Name Scheme                             | allocated | utilized * | allocated | utilized  | allocated | utilized  | allocated | utilized  | allocated | utilized  | allocated                  | utilized                   |
| 1        | National Handloom Development Programme | 184.74    | 182.87     | 142.08    | 113.82    | 166.71    | 149.14    | 161.49    | 159.53    | 165.50    | 165.37    | 200.00                     | 76.43                      |
| 2        | Raw Material Supply Scheme              | 200.00    | 199.84     | 155.41    | 126.84    | 165.21    | 142.21    | 70.00     | 60.32     | 105.00    | 89.53     | 105.00                     | 102.10                     |

* The funds utilized/released are based on receipt of proposals from the State Governments and other Handloom organisations, and utilization of previously released funds etc.