Lok Sabha Question No. 875 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-23
Subject: Losses to Handloom Weavers
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: D. Ravikumar

## LOSSES TO HANDLOOM WEAVERS

## 875. SHRI RAVIKUMAR D.:

## Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंत्री

be pleased to state :

(a) whether the Government is aware that handlooms are less profitable because the weavers buy the raw materials from the open market;

(b) if so, whether the Government proposes to take steps to provide all the raw materials required by handloom weavers through co-operative societies;

(c) whether despite the increase in the volume of cloth produced by handloom, the income of handloom weavers is declining;

(d) if so, the details of steps taken by the Government to prevent this; and

(e) the action taken by the Government to increase the export of Indian handloom products to foreign countries?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER

## वस्त्र राज् यमंत्री ( श्रीमती दर्शना जरदोर् )

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

(a) & (b): Yarn  Supply  Scheme  (YSS)  is  being  implemented  throughout  the  country  through National Handloom Development Corporation to make available all types of yarn at Mill Gate Price. Under the Scheme, freight charges are reimbursed for all types of yarn and component of 10% price subsidy also exists on hank yarn, which is available for cotton, domestic silk, wool and linen yarn with quantity caps.

As per the 3 rd party Evaluation study of the implementation of Yarn Supply Scheme:

i. YSS has been acknowledged as a successful scheme which has helped to increase overall production of handloom.

ii. Reduced cost of good quality raw material and transport subsidies have helped the weavers to a large extent to sell their product at a competitive price and hence increase and regularise their net income.

iii.  The  scheme  provides  good  quality  yarn  at  lower  prices  than  the  open  market  at  the  weaver  door steps  through  depots  which  have  been  very  helpful  in  sustenance  of  their  engagement  in  handloom trade.

(c) & (d): As per 3 rd handloom census (2009-10), average earning of Handloom Households was Rs.  36498  per  annum  (i.e.  Rs.  3042  per  Month).    Further,  it  was  estimated  that  99%  of  weaver households  earned  less  then  Rs  5000  per  month.  This  proportion  has  come  down  to  67.1%  in  4 th Handloom Census (2019-20).

To  promote  handloom  sector,  the  Office  of  the  Development  Commissioner  for  Handlooms, Ministry of Textiles, is implementing the following schemes across the country:-

- 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)

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.

- (e): To  popularize  Handloom  Products  in  the  international  markets,  Handloom  Export  Promotion Council  (HEPC)  organizes  international  Expos,  events  and  RBSMs.  During  2020-21,  HEPC  has organized 12 International Fairs in virtual mode.

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