Lok Sabha Question No. 1610 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-29
Subject: Crisis faced by Traditional Handloom Weavers
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Shri Jagannath Sarkar

## CRISIS FACED BY TRADITIONAL HANDLOOM WEAVERS

## 1610. SHRI JAGANNATH SARKAR:

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

(a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  ongoing  crisis  faced  by  traditional  handloom  weavers  in Santipur and Phulia of West Bengal, due to competition from powerlooms, lack of marketing support and declining income and if so, the details thereof;

(b)  whether  the  Government  is  planning  any  region-specific  revival  package  or  export-linked  support scheme for weavers from Santipur and Phulia;

(c) whether any proposals have been received from the West Bengal Government in this regard; and

(d)  the  details  of  existing  or  proposed  skill  development  programmes,  infrastructure  upgradation  and technology integration schemes aimed at modernizing the handloom sector in this region?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER

## वस्त्र मंत्री ( श्री गिररराज स ंह )

## MINISTER OF TEXTILES (SHRI GIRIRAJ SINGH)

(a) & (b): To  provide  end  to  end  support  for  development,  promotion  and  revival  of  handloom sector and ensure welfare of handloom weavers/workers, Ministry of Textiles is implementing following schemes across the country including Santipur and Phulia of West Bengal:

1. National Handloom Development Programme
2. Raw Material Supply Scheme

Under  the  National  Handloom  Development  Programme,  financial  assistance  is  provided  to  eligible handloom  agencies/weavers  for  procurement  of  upgraded  looms  &  accessories,  solar  lighting  units, construction  of  workshed,  product  &  design  development,  technical  and  common  infrastructure, marketing  support  for  handloom  products  in  domestic/overseas  markets,  concessional  loans  under weavers' MUDRA scheme and social security etc.

Under the Raw Material supply Scheme, the Ministry provides transport subsidy for transportation of yarn to the doorstep of the beneficiaries and 15% Price Subsidy on Cotton Hank yarn, Domestic Silk, Woollen & Linen yarn and blended yarn of natural fibres.

(c) & (d): On receipt of proposals from the State of West Bengal, the following assistance has been provided to West Bengal including Santipur and Phulia under these schemes during 2014-15 to 2025-26 (as on 30.06.2025):

(i)      39 handloom clusters including 2 in Santipur, 12 in Nadia district and one mega handloom cluster at  Murshidabad  have  been  taken  up  for  financial  assistance  of  Rs.39.10  crore  benefitting  30,208 handloom  workers  including  5,038  weavers  provided  upgraded  looms/accessories  under  technology upgardation, 1,676 handloom workers have been imparted Skill up-gradation training.

- (ii)     29 marketing events have been organized to facilitate and promote sales of Handloom Products.

(iii)    12 Handloom Producer companies including 2 in Santipur & one in Phulia have been formed to enhance productivity, marketing capabilities and facilitate better incomes.

(iv)     43,198  beneficiaries  have  been  provided  loans  at  concessional  rates  under  Weavers'  MUDRA Scheme.

(v)     2,11,550 beneficiaries have been enrolled under Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana/converged MGBBY and  45,390  beneficiaries  under  Pradhan  Mantri  Jeevan  Jyoti  Bima  Yojana/Pradhan  Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana.

- (vi)    Total 101.59 lakh kg of yarn supplied under Transport subsidy & Price subsidy benefitting 54,807 handloom organisations/weavers every year.

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