Lok Sabha Question No. 1875 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-10
Subject: Handlooms (Reservation of Articles for Production) Act, 1985
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: M. UDHAYAKUMAR

## HANDLOOMS (RESERVATION OF ARTICLES   FOR PRODUCTION) ACT, 1985

1875.   ADV. M.   UDHAYAKUMAR:

## Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंरी

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has      enforced  the  Handlooms  (Reservation  of      Articles  for Production)  Act,  1985 to      protect  the  livelihood  of  the  handloom      weavers  and  industry  in  the country;
- (b) if so, whether the Government has   asked the powerloom owners to desist   from producing notified items in the   reserved list;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether any monitoring committee   has been formed for effective   implementation of the above order; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER वस्त्र राज  ् य मंरी ( स्त्वतंर प्रभार ) ( श्री संतोष कु मार गंगवार ) MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

## IN THE MINISTRY OF TEXTILES (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

(a) to (e) : Yes madam. The Government of India has promulgated the Handlooms (Reservation of Articles  for  Production)  Act,  1985  dated  29.3.1985  with  a  view  to  protect  the  interests  of  the handloom  weavers  and  rich  cultural  heritage  of  the  country  from  the  encroachment  of  the powerloom and mill sector on their livelihood.

Under the Act, presently 11 textile articles with certain technical specifications are reserved under  the  Handloom  Reservation  Order  vide  Notification  No.  S.  O.  No.  2160  (E)  dated  3 rd September  2008  for  exclusive  production  on  handlooms  only.    Powerlooms  are  prohibited  to produce  these  reserved  articles.    These  articles  are:  1)  Saree,  2)  Dhoti,  3)Towel,  Gamcha  and Angawastaram,  4)  Lungi,  5)  Khes,  Bedsheet,  Bedcover,  Counterpane,  Furnishing  (including tapestry,  upholstery),  6)  Jamakkalam  Durry  or  Durret,    7)  Dress  Material,  8)  Barrack  Blankets, Kambal  or  Kamblies,    9)  Shawl,  Loi,  Muffler,  Pankhi  etc.,    10)  Woollen  Tweed,  11)  Chaddar, Mekhala/Phanek.

All  the  State  Governments,  Enforcement  Wings  of  the      Office  of  the  Development Commissioner  (Handlooms)  and  Weavers  Service  Centres  are  the  implementing  agencies  to implement the provisions of the Act.  In order to implement the provisions of the Act effectively, every  year,  targets  of  powerloom  inspections  are  fixed  by  the  Office  of  the  Development Commissioner  (Handlooms)  and  circulated  to  all  the  implementing  agencies  for  compliance. Wherever any violation is detected, suitable action under the provisions of the Act is initiated.

The progress of powerloom inspections for the last four years is as follows:-

|   Sl. No. | Physical progress                 | 2012-13   | 2013-14   | 2014-15   | 2015-16 (Upto Oct, 2015)   |
|-----------|-----------------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|----------------------------|
|         1 | Targets for powerloom inspections | 2,72,013  | 2,90,420  | 3,08,888  | 3,21,452                   |
|         2 | No. of powerlooms inspected       | 2,76,011  | 2,90,773  | 3,09,817  | 1,54,994                   |
|         3 | No. of FIRs. lodged               | 97        | 113       | 88        | 41                         |
|         4 | No. of convictions obtained       | 39        | 37        | 66        | 25                         |

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