Lok Sabha Question No. 1145 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-08
Subject: Schemes/Programme for Handloom Sector
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Rama Devi, Locket Chatterjee, Navneet Ravi Rana, Sunil Kumar Pintu, Ramesh Chander Kaushik, Ajay Kumar Mandal

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1145 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.02.2023

## SCHEME/PROGRAMME FOR HANDLOOM SECTOR

## 1145. SHRIMATI RAMA DEVI:

MS. LOCKET CHATTERJEE: SHRIMATI NAVNEET RAVI RANA: SHRI SUNIL KUMAR PINTU: SHRI RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK: SHRI AJAY KUMAR MANDAL:

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

(a)  the  details  of  the  benefits  received  by  the  weavers  from  the  National  Handloom  Development Programme and the Raw Material Supply Scheme being implemented to help the handloom sector and overcome the difficulties  faced  by  handloom  weavers  in  Hooghly  district  of  West  Bengal,  Amravati district  of  Maharashtra,  Sheohar,  Sitamarhi,  East  Champaran  and  Bhagalpur  districts  of  Bihar  and Sonipat district of Haryana;

(b)  the  details  of  the  number  of  applications  received  from  the  aforesaid  places  under  both  these schemes and the number of applications approved so far including the reasons for not approving the remaining applications;

(c) whether the said scheme is not able to reach the needy weavers due to lack of wide publicity and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) whether there is a role of Hon'ble Members of Parliament in the said scheme and if so, the details thereof?

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES

## उत्तर ANSWER वस्त्र राज् य मंत्री ( श्रीमती दर्शना जरदोर् ) (SMT. DARSHANA JARDOSH)

(a) to (d): In  order  to  benefit  handloom  weavers  and  overcome  the  difficulties  faced  by  them, Ministry  of  Textiles  is  implementing  the  National  Handloom  Development  Programme  and  Raw Material  Supply  Scheme  across  the  country  including  Hooghly  district  of  West  Bengal,  Amravati district  of  Maharashtra,  Sheohar,  Sitamarhi,  East  Champaran  and  Bhagalpur  districts  of  Bihar  and Sonipat district of Haryana. Details of the benefits extended in the States of West Bengal, Maharashtra, Bihar and Haryana under the above schemes are as follows:

(i)  Cluster  Development Programme: The need based  financial  assistance is  provided  for  various interventions  like  upgraded  looms  &  accessories,  lighting  units,  design  &  product  development, construction of workshed etc. During 2015-16 to 2022-23 (upto December, 2022), 09 clusters have been sanctioned for Bhagalpur District in Bihar. Further, upgraded looms/accessories to 89 weavers, lighting units  to  07  weavers,  individual  workshed  to  155  weavers  and  skill  upgradation  training  program  in technical areas to 782 handloom workers have been provided in Bihar State.

(ii) Concessional Credit/Weaver MUDRA Scheme : Subsidized loans at concessional interest rate of 6% for a period of three years is available to eligible handloom organizations with interest subvention cap upto 7% by the GoI. The scheme also provides margin money assistance of 20% of loan amount subject to maximum of Rs.25,000/- to individual weaver and 20% of loan amount subject to maximum of Rs.20.00 lakh (Rs. 2.00 lakh for every 100 weaver/worker). A total of 30 number of loans with loan amount of Rs.18.75 lakh for West Bengal and 86 number of loan with loan amount of Rs.43.00 lakh for Bihar State have been sanctioned during 2019-20 to 2022-23(upto December 2022).

(iii)  Handloom  Marketing  Assistance  (HMA) :  Financial  assistance  is  provided  to  Handloom Organizations/handloom  agencies  for  organizing  the  marketing  events  such  as  National  Handloom Expos (NHEs)/ Special Handloom Expos (SHEs)/ District Handloom Events (DHEs) etc. to sell their handloom products. The weavers are also facilitated to participate in various craft melas including Dilli Haat in different parts of the country. Rs.115.73 lakh for 9 Expos in Bihar, Rs.19.44 lakh for 2 Expos in Maharashtra and Rs.6.00 lakh for 01 Expo in Haryana State have been sanctioned during 2020-21 to 2022-23 (upto December 2022).

(iv) Raw Material Supply Scheme (RMSS): Under the scheme, quality yarn is provided to handloom weavers/  societies  throughout  the  country.  Freight  charges  are  reimbursed  for  all  types  of  yarn  and component  of  15%  price  subsidy  is  available  for  cotton  hank  yarn,  domestic  silk,  wool,  linen  and blended yarn of natural fibres. During 2020-21 to 2022-23 (upto December 2022), 0.905 lakh kgs yarn for  Hooghly  district  and  0.236  lakh  kgs  yarn  for  Bhagalpur  district  have  been  supplied.  Under  the scheme, 9 applications covering 950 looms for Hooghly district and 11 applications covering 250 looms for Bhagalpur district have been received.

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