Lok Sabha Question No. 3914 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-25
Subject: Promotion of Traditional Handloom Products
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Shri Brijendra Singh Ola

## PROMOTION OF TRADITIONAL HANDLOOM PRODUCTS

## 3914. SHRI BRIJENDRA SINGH OLA:

Will the Minister of TEXTILES be pleased to state :

## वस्त्र मंत्री

(a) the steps taken by the Government to promote the traditional handloom and handicraft products of Rajasthan in domestic and international markets;

(b)  the  amount  of  financial  assistance  or  subsidy  provided  to  the  weavers  and  artisans  of  Rajasthan through the various schemes of the Government along with the details thereof;

(c) whether any efforts have been made by the Government to increase the minimum wages of weavers and artisans of Rajasthan; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER

## वस्त्र राज्  य मंत्री ( श्री पबित्र मार्घेररटा )

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES (SHRI PABITRA MARGHERITA)

(a): To  promote  the  Handloom  and  Handicraft  sectors,  Ministry  of  Textiles  is  implementing  the following schemes across the country:

1. National Handloom Development Programme;
2. Raw Material Supply Scheme;
3. National Handicrafts Development Programme
4. Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme

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

In addition to the above,

-  Ministry  of  Textiles  is  also  seeking  protection  of  traditional  designs  and  patterns  under  the Geographical  Indication  (GI)  Act,  1999.  This  Ministry  provides  financial  assistance  for registering the designs/products under the GI Act and for organizing seminars, workshops etc., for awareness creation.
-  Design  Resource  Centres  have  been  set  up  in  16  Weavers'  Service  Centres  across  the  country including  at  Jaipur,  Rajasthan  to  preserve  traditional  handloom  designs,  and  to  build  and  create design-oriented excellence in the Handloom Sector.
-  Marketing  platform  is  provided  to  the  handloom  &  handicrafts  agencies/weavers/artisans  by organizing  marketing  expos/events  to  sell  their  products.  During  last  three  years,  a  total  of  43 expos/events have been organised in the State of Rajasthan.
-  To enhance productivity, marketing capabilities and ensure better incomes, more than 380 Producer Companies (PCs) have been formed in different States across country including 16 PCs in the state of Rajasthan.
-  Steps have been taken to on-board weavers and artisans on Government e-Market (GeM) place to enable them sell their products directly to various Government Departments and organizations. So far about 1.80 lakh weavers have been on-boarded on the GeM portal.

(b): Funds are not allocated State-wise. The funds are released based on receipt of proposals from the State Governments and other Handloom organisations.

(c) & (d): Handloom and Handicrafts are mainly an individual based household activity to which Minimum Wages Act is not applicable. However, through schematic interventions, as specified above, Ministry  of  Textile  provides  direct  marketing  platforms  giving  ample  opportunities  for  business development and income generation to weavers and artisans across the country.