Lok Sabha Question No. 2139 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-02
Subject: Hardships faced by Handloom Weavers and Artisans
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: S. Gnanathiraviam

## HARDSHIPS FACED BY HANDLOOM WEAVERS AND ARTISANS

## 2139. SHRI GNANATHIRAVIAM S.:

## Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंत्री

be pleased to state :

- (a) the details of the hardships being faced by handloom weavers and artisans of handicrafts sector in the State of Tamil Nadu;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  provides  any  financial  assistance/subsidy  to  self-help  groups/nonGovernmental organizations through various schemes formulated for handloom weavers and artisans;
- (c) if so, the details thereof including the schemes formulated for the purpose along with the names of such institutes/groups as well as the funds allocated to them during the last three years and the current year, State/Union Territory-wise; and
- (d)  the  other  steps  taken  by  the  Government  for  promotion  and  development  of  handloom  and handicraft sectors in the country?

## उत्तर

ANSWER

## वस्त्र राज् य मंत्री ( श्रीमती दर्शना जरदोर् )

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

- (a) & (b): Ministry of Textiles is implementing following schemes to promote the handloom and handicraft sector and welfare of weavers/artisans across the country including State of Tamil Nadu:
1. National Handloom Development Programme;
2. Raw Material Supply Scheme;
3. National Handicraft Development Programme;
4. Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme

Under  the  above  schemes,  financial  assistance/subsidy  is  provided  to  eligible  handloom  and handicraft agencies/weavers/artisans including self-help groups/non-Governmental organisations engaged in these sectors for raw materials, procurement of upgraded looms & accessories, toolkits, solar lighting  units,  construction  of  workshed,  product  &  design  development,  technical  and  common infrastructure, marketing of handloom products in domestic/overseas markets, concessional loans under weavers' MUDRA scheme and social security etc.

- (c): Under  these  schemes,  funds  are  not  allocated  State/UT-wise.  However,  need  based  financial assistance is provided to eligible agencies for various interventions on receipt of viable proposals as per the  extant  guidelines  of  the  respective  schemes.  The  details  of  funds  released/sanctioned  under  these schemes during the last three years and the current year are as follows:

| Year                       |   Funds released (Rs. in crore) |
|----------------------------|---------------------------------|
| 2020-21                    |                          392.98 |
| 2021-22                    |                          651.86 |
| 2022-23                    |                          469.58 |
| 2023-24 (as on 26.07.2023) |                          110.15 |

(d): The  following  steps  have  also  been  taken  for  promotion  and  development  of  handloom  and handicraft sectors in the country: -

- i. Provision has been made for welfare of weavers and artisans through life & accidental insurance cover  and  financial  support  to  Awardee  weavers/artisans  above  60  years  of  age  in  indigent circumstances.
- ii. Under  Weavers'  MUDRA  Loan/Concessional  Credit  Scheme,  margin  money  assistance  for individual weaver & artisan and handloom/handicraft organizations and credit guarantee fees on loans for a period of three years are provided. Also interest subvention is provided for handicraft artisans and handloom/handicraft organizations.
- iii. To enhance productivity, marketing capabilities and ensure better incomes, Producer companies have been formed in handloom and handicraft sectors.
- iv. To  integrate  Craft  promotion  with  tourism,  Craft  Villages  are  being  set  up  enroute  popular tourist destinations.
- v. 16 Design Resource Centres have been set up in Weavers' Service Centres at Delhi, Mumbai, Varanasi,  Ahmedabad,  Jaipur,  Bhubaneswar,  Guwahati,  Kancheepuram,  Kolkata, Indore, Nagpur,  Panipat,  Meerut,  Hyderabad,  Bengaluru  and  Chennai  to  build  and  create  designoriented excellence in the Handloom Sector and to facilitate weavers, exporters, manufacturers and designers access design repositories for sample/product improvisation and development.
- vi. For  export  promotion,  Handloom  and  Handicraft  Export  Promotion  Councils  have  been organising various International marketing events/fairs. Besides, domestic marketing events are also organised in different parts of the country for the weavers/artisans to market and sell their products.

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