Lok Sabha Question No. 1027 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-26
Subject: Livelihood of Handloom Workers
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: S. Gnanathiraviam, Vijayakumar (alias) Vijay Vasanth

## LIVELIHOOD OF HANDLOOM WORKERS

## 1027. SHRI GNANATHIRAVIAM S.: SHRI VIJAYAKUMAR (ALIAS) VIJAY VASANTH:

## Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंत्री

be pleased to state :

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  note  on  the  loss  of  livelihood  of  handloom  and  power  loom workers and the low productivity during the last five years including the pandemic period and if so, the details thereof;

(b)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  the  most  weavers  want  to  sell  their  textile  products  to Government institutions and they also seek subsidy for the procurement of raw materials;

(c) if so, the details thereof and the details of the assistance given by the Government in this regard;

(d) whether textile industry is facing slowdown due to the failure of cooperative committees which has affected the collection of GST; and

(e) if so, the details thereof during the last five years and till date and the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER

## वस्त्र राज् य मंत्री ( श्रीमती दर्शना जरदोर् )

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

(a) to (e): Handloom Sector is primarily unorganized and traditional in nature and data pertaining to this sector is dispersed and largely unavailable for quantification. However, specific instances of loss of livelihood or low productivity have not been reported.

The Government has taken the following steps to support the Handloom Sector:

- i. Government  is  implementing  the  National  Handloom  Development  Programme  under  which financial assistance is provided to the eligible handloom agencies/ weavers for raw materials, looms  &  upgraded  accessories,  infrastructure  development,  design  &  product  development, marketing of handloom products in domestic/overseas markets, weavers MUDRA loans etc.
2. ii The States and UTs have requested their State Handloom Corporations/Co-operatives/Agencies to make purchases of the finished inventory available with the handloom weavers.
- iii. Weavers have been on-boarded on Government e-Market (GeM) place to enable them sell their products  directly  to  various  Government  Departments  and  organizations.  An  online  portal 'Indiahandmade.com' has also been launched by the Ministry to enable weavers/artisans to sell their products directly.
- iv. To enhance productivity, marketing capabilities and facilitate better incomes, 154 Handloom Producer companies have been formed in different States of the country.
- v. For  export  promotion  of  handloom products,  Handloom Export Promotion Council has been organizing  International  Fairs.    Besides,  various  domestic  marketing  events  are  organised  in different parts of the country for the weavers to market and sell their products.
- vi. Raw Material Supply Scheme (RMSS) is being implemented throughout the country to make available Yarn to Handloom weavers. Under the Scheme, freight charges are reimbursed for all types of yarn; and component of 15% price subsidy is there for cotton hank yarn, domestic silk, wool and linen yarn and blended yarn of natural fibres, with quantity caps.

Growth  of  the  textile  Industry  depends  on  many  factors,  besides  functioning  of  the  co-operative societies.

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