Lok Sabha Question No. 918 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-05
Subject: Promotion of Handloom Sector in North Eastern States
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Pallab Lochan Das

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 918 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2021

## PROMOTION OF HANDLOOM SECTOR IN NORTH EASTERN STATES

## 918.   SHRI PALLAB LOCHAN DAS:

## Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंत्री

be pleased to state :

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of the immense potential of handloom sector in the North Eastern States which could aid in socio-economic upliftment of locals in the region, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether it is a fact that the Government has implemented a sustainable mechanism for promotion of handloom as a source of livelihood;
- (c) the details of market intervention for development of handloom during the last three years;
- (d) whether it is a fact that women participation/ engagement is more in handloom sector; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof along with the welfare schemes/financial assistance provided to the weavers?

## उत्तर ANSWER

## वस्त्र मंत्री ( श्रीमती स्मृतत ज़ूबिन इरानी )

MINISTER OF TEXTILES (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) to (e): The  North-East  has  the  highest  concentration  of  handloom  weavers  in  the  country  with  women participation of around 88%.  Ministry of Textiles is implementing the following schemes across the country including North-Eastern States:-

- 1) National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP)
- 2) Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS)
- 3) Handloom Weavers' Comprehensive Welfare Scheme (HWCWS)
- 4) Yarn Supply Scheme (YSS)
- 5) North Eastern Region Textiles Promotion Scheme (NERTPS)

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.

## 1. NATIONAL HANDLOOM DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (NHDP)

- (i) BLOCK  LEVEL  CLUSTER :    Introduced  in  2015-16  as  one  of  the  components  of  National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP).  Financial assistance upto Rs. 2.00 Crore per BLC for various interventions such as skill upgradation, Hathkargha Samvardhan Sahayata, product development, construction of workshed, project management cost, design development, setting up of common facility centre (CFC) etc. is provided. Besides, financial assistance upto Rs. 50.00 lakh is also available for setting up of one dye house at district level. The proposals are recommended by the State Government.  During 2017-18 to 2019-20 and current financial year, 33 Block Level Clusters sanctioned and Rs. 3288.53 lakh has been released.
- (ii) HANDLOOM MARKETING ASSISTANCE is  one  of  the  components  of  National  Handloom Development Programme. In order to provide marketing platform to the handloom agencies/weavers to sell their products directly to the consumers, financial assistance is provided to the States/eligible handloom agencies for organizing marketing events in domestic as well as overseas markets.   During 2017-18 to 2019-20 and current financial year, 134 handloom expos sanctioned and Rs. 1384.29 lakh has been released.
- (iii) WEAVER MUDRA SCHEME : Under the Weaver MUDRA Scheme, credit at concessional credit at concessional rate of 6% for a period of three years with GoI interest subvention capped at 7% under National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP) is provided to the handloom weavers. Under

the scheme, margin money assistance @20% of loan amount subject to a maximum of Rs. 10,000/per  weaver,  credit  guarantee  fee  and  subsidized  loan  are  provided  to  handloom  weaver.  MUDRA Portal  has  been  developed  in  association  with  Punjab  National  Bank  to  cut  down  delay  in disbursement of funds for margin money and interest subvention. During 2017-18 to 2019-20, loan amounting to Rs.197.75 lakh has been disbursed.

## (iv) HATHKARGHA SAMVARDHAN SAHAYATA (HSS):

Hathkargha Samvardhan Sahayata (HSS) was introduced on 1st December 2016 with an objective to provide looms/accessories to the weavers to enhance their earnings through improved productivity and quality of the handloom products. Under the scheme, 90% of the cost of loom/accessory is borne by  the  Government  of  India.    During  2017-18  to  2019-20,  number  of  HSS  items  distributed  were (i)  HSS  (looms  &  accessories)  to  8108  beneficiaries;  (ii)  worksheds  to  240  beneficiaries;  and (iii) lighting units to 420 beneficiaries  in the NER States.

- (v) 'INDIA  HANDLOOM'  BRAND -  During  the  celebration  of  7th  August  2015  as  National Handloom Day, 'India Handloom' Brand was launched by Hon'ble Prime Minister for branding of high quality handloom products.  Since its launch, 1590 registrations (inclusive of 14 registrations from NER States) have been issued under 184 product categories and total sale of Rs. 1069.93 Crore (upto December 2020) has been generated across the country including NER States.
- (vi) E-COMMERCE -  In order to promote e-marketing of handloom products, a policy framework was designed and under which any willing e-commerce platform with good track record can participate in online marketing of handloom products. Accordingly, 23 e-commerce entities have been engaged for on-line marketing of handloom products. A total sale of Rs.123.97 Crore (upto September 2020) has been reported through the online portal across the country including NER States.
- (vii) URBAN HAATS are set up in the big towns/metropolitan cities to provide adequate direct marketing facilities to the craft persons/weavers and eliminate middle agencies. 38 such Urban Haats have been sanctioned across the country so far, out of which 3 have been sanctioned in NER States.

## 2. COMPREHENSIVE HANDLOOM CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT SCHEME:

The Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) is implemented for development of Mega  Handloom  Clusters  in  clearly identifiable geographical areas/locations covering atleast  15000 handlooms with the Government of India (GoI) with a contribution upto Rs.40 Crore per cluster over a period of 5 years. In Assam State, Sivasagar Mega Handloom cluster has been taken up covering Sivasagar district. Till date Rs. 22.18 Crore has been released for implementation of various interventions.

## 3. HANDLOOM WEAVERS' COMPREHENSIVE WELFARE SCHEME:

Weavers Comprehensive Welfare Scheme (HWCWS) is providing life, accidental and disability insurance coverage  under  the  components  Pradhan  Mantri  Jeevan  Jyoti  Bima  Yojana  (PMJJBY),  Pradhan  Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and Converged Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana (MGBBY). During 2017-18 to 2019-20, 1197 natural death claims of Rs.7.176 crore have been settled under the scheme in the NER States .

## 4. YARN SUPPLY SCHEME:

Yarn Supply Scheme is being implemented throughout the country (including NER States) to make available all  types  of  yarn  at  Mill  Gate  Price.  The  scheme  is  being  implemented  through  National  Handloom Development Corporation (NHDC). Under the scheme, 10% price subsidy is provided which is applicable on cotton, domestic silk, wool and linen yarn with quantity restrictions.  During 2017-18 to 2019-20 and current financial year, 11.49 lakh kg. yarn of the value of Rs. 7199 lakh has been supplied under the scheme in NER states.

## 5. NORTH EASTERN TEXTILE PROMOTION SCHEME (NERTPS):

The North East Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS) is an umbrella scheme implemented in project mode  to  promote  textiles  industry  in  the  NER  States  by  providing  infrastructure,  capacity  building  and marketing support to the industry.   Funds are released for the following interventions under the scheme:

- (i) CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (CDP)During  2017-18 to 2019-20, Rs.2178 lakh has been released under the scheme for the already sanctioned 180 Cluster Development Projects.
- (ii) TECHNOLOGY UPGRADATION SCHEME FOR HANDLOOM (TUP)During  2017-18  to 2019-20 , Rs.120  lakh  has  been  released  under  the  scheme  for  already  sanctioned  01  Technology Upgradation Project.
- (iii) HANDLOOM MARKETING EVENTS During 2017-18 to 2019-20 and current financial year, Rs.1546.61 lakh has been released and 74 Handloom marketing events/expos have been sanctioned.