Lok Sabha Question No. 486 (STARRED), answered on 2022-04-06
Subject: Impact of Covid-19 on Handloom Sector
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Chandra Sekhar Sahu, Rahul Ramesh Shewale

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *486 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.04.2022

## IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON HANDLOOM SECTOR

## *486.  SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR SAHU: SHRI RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE:

## Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंत्री be pleased to state :

- (a)  whether  the  Handloom  Sector  has  been  affected  by  the  COVID-19  pandemic  for  the  second successive year in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether production across Odisha, Maharashtra and other States has declined as marketing activities has stopped during this period;
- (c) if so, the details in this regard, State-wise including Odisha and Maharashtra;
- (d) whether earnings of the weavers has also been affected to a considerable extent and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government proposes to announce any special package for handloom weavers including insurance and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) whether the Government also proposes to revise the guidelines for Market Development Assistance to support them and if so, the details thereof?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER वस्त्र मंत्री ( श्री पीयूष गोयल )

MINISTER OF TEXTILES (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) to (f):A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## Statement referred to in reply to part (a) to (f) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. *486 for answer on 06.04.2022

(a) to (f): No  handloom  sector  specific  study  for  assessment  of  Covid-19  pandemic  impact  has been done by the Government anywhere in the country, including the states of Odisha and Maharashtra. Also, due to unorganised and traditional nature of Handloom sector, such data pertaining to the sector is dispersed and largely unavailable for centralised quantification.

The  following  steps  have  been  taken  by  the  Government  to  mitigate  the  effects  of  the  Covid  -19 pandemic:

-  The  Government  of  India  announced  a  special  economic  package  viz.  Aatma  Nirbhar  Bharat Abhiyaan in 2020 for boosting economy of the country and making India self-reliant. Relief and credit  support  measures  were  announced  for  various  sectors.  Benefits  of  these  relief  and  credit support  measures  to  revive  their  businesses  were  available  to  eligible  weavers  and  Handloom Organizations.
-  To support Handloom weavers, social media campaigns were organized under the #Vocal4Handmade in the year 2020 and #MyHandlooMyPride in 2021. Central Ministers and State Chief  Ministers,  besides  others  were  requested  to  participate  and  support  these  social  media campaigns.  Marketing  events, Quiz  contests etc. were  organized to popularize  handlooms, stimulating interest of the Indian Public and creation of sales opportunities for the weavers.
-  State Governments were requested to make purchases of the finished inventory available with the Handloom Weavers through their Handloom Corporations, Cooperatives, Agencies etc.
-  For boosting sales during the pandemic, Handloom weavers were connected with Rural livelihood missions of various states for production of face-masks by the Self Help Groups.
-  Dissemination of Covid health protocols in Handloom pockets and amongst weavers was organised through  Virtual  Conference  during  the  pandemic.  Chaupals  were  organized  to  create  awareness about the Government schemes and ways and means to effectively combat Covid-19 pandemic.
-  To  facilitate sale of handloom  products  directly to  various  Government  Departments  and organizations,  steps  were  taken  to  on-board  weavers  on  Government  e-Market  place.  1,49,429 weavers and handloom organizations have been onboarded on the portal.
-  135 Handloom Producer companies have been formed in different States of the country to enhance productivity, marketing capabilities and facilitate better incomes.
-  10  virtual  marketing  events  were  organised  in  the  year  2020-21  and  11  virtual  marketing  events were organized  in  2021-22  to  facilitate  Handloom  Producers  to  showcase  and  sell  their  products online.  Also  214  Marketing  Events  have  been  sanctioned  in  physical  mode  during  2021-22  for marketing of Handloom Products.
-  To build and create design-oriented excellence in the Handloom Sector and to facilitate weavers, exporters,  manufacturers  and  designers  access,  design  repositories  for  product  diversification  and Design Resource Centres have been set up in Weavers' Service Centres at Delhi, Mumbai, Varanasi, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati and Kancheepuram.
-  National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP) guidelines, having detailed information on Handloom Marketing Assistance, organization of expos, for both physical and virtual mode were issued in October, 2021.
-  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.