Lok Sabha Question No. 499 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-06
Subject: Setting up of Craft Clusters
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Ganesan Selvam, Dhanush M Kumar

## SETTING UP OF CRAFT CLUSTERS

## 499. SHRI SELVAM G.: SHRI DHANUSH M. KUMAR:

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

(a) the number of operational craft clusters set up in the country especially in Tamil Nadu along with the number of craftsmen operating in the said clusters during each of the last three years and the current year;

(b) the details of financial and other assistance provided/utilized in setting up of craft clusters during each of the last three years and the current year;

(c)  whether  the  Government  has  evaluated  the  sick  and  closed  down  clusters  and  their  financial condition;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the remedial measures taken for improving the financial condition of the said clusters and reviving the closed clusters; and

(e) the other steps taken by the Government to set up more craft clusters in the country?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER वस्त्र राज् य मंत्री ( श्रीमती दर्शना जरदोर् ) THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES

## (SMT. DARSHANA JARDOSH)

(a) & (b) : Total  65  craft  clusters  have  been  adopted  in  the  last  three  years  of  which  03  adopted clusters  are  in  Tamil  Nadu.  Further,  for  formalization  of  clusters,  artisan-based  Producer  Companies have been conceptualised  since  2020-21  for  the  overall  development  of  cluster  artisans.  So  far,  165 Producer  Companies  (including  3  in  Tamil  Nadu)  have  been  formed  across  the  country  under Ambedkar  Hastshilp  Vikas  Yojana  (AHVY)  covering  export-oriented  clusters,  SC,  ST,  Women clusters,  clusters  linking  tourism  spots  and  aspirational  districts.  The  details  of  beneficiaries  covered under AHVY and financial assistance provided to them in the last three years and the current year is enclosed in Annexure -I

(c) & (d): The  evaluation  of  cluster  activities  has  been  conducted  across  the  country  in  the  year 2019-20 and no cluster have been closed down. As per the recommendations of the evaluation report, Government  organized  Chaupals/Shivirs  all  over  the  country  for  providing  Aadhar  linked  Pahchan Cards, facilitating the artisans through MUDRA loan and for onboarding the artisans on the Government e-Marketplace  (GeM)  portal  and  making  them  aware  of  the  e-commerce  market.  Workshop  cum seminar have been organised by the Office of Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles  with  a  view  of  sensitizing  the  cluster  artisans,  entrepreneurs,  NGO,  Voluntary  Organsiation involved  in  Handicraft  sector.  Further,  initiatives  have  been  taken  to  resolve  the  artisan's  issue  by establishing Helpline centre.

Also, the revised Ambedkar Hastashilp Vikas Yojana (AHVY) scheme envisages supporting viable craft clusters across the country through formation of Producer Companies and subsequently providing needbased intervention like design and technical development workshop, distribution of tool-kits, exhibition, craft demonstration programme, seminar to integrate them into the financial mainstream.

- (e): The  Office  of  Development  Commissioner  (Handicrafts)  identifies  and  strengthens  the  existing clusters by providing appropriate interventions based on the needs of artisans.

In line with National Action Plan for Toys' guidelines of Government of India, Office of Development Commissioner  (Handicrafts)  has  provided  need-based  interventions  to  toy  clusters  for  sustainable development of toy craft artisans.

ANNEXURE-I

Annexure I refer to Part (a) to (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 499 for answer on 6 th December 2023.

## Details of beneficiaries covered & financial assistance provided (2020-2023)

| Sr. No.   | Financial Year   |   Financial Assistance across the country (in crore) | Total number of beneficiaries across the country   | Total number of beneficiaries in the state of Tamil Nadu   |
|-----------|------------------|------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1.        | 2020-21          |                                                22.77 | 19,190                                             | 360                                                        |
| 2.        | 2021-22          |                                                41.48 | 45,985                                             | 1,572                                                      |
| 3.        | 2022-23          |                                                38.1  | 23,060                                             | 374                                                        |
| 4.        | 2023-24          |                                                48.01 | 21,716                                             | 385                                                        |
| Total     | Total            |                                               150.36 | 1,09,951                                           | 2,691                                                      |

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