Lok Sabha Question No. 277 (STARRED), answered on 2016-08-04
Subject: Grants to Weavers
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: GANESH SINGH

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*277 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2016

## GRANTS TO WEAVERS

## *277. SHRI GANESH SINGH:

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

- (a) the  details  of  the  facilities  and  grants  provided  to  the  weavers  under various schemes;
- (b) whether schemes have been launched to improve working condition of weavers and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether weavers are being trained and provided skill training so as to make  their products attractive in the market enabling them to fetch remunerative price, and if so, the details thereof?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER

## वस्त्र मंरी ( )

MINISTER OF TEXTILES (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

- (a) to (c): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED IN REPLY (a) to (c) TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*277 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2016

(a) &( b): The  Government  of  India,  Ministry  of  Textiles  has  launched  various schemes/programmes for improving weavers both in handloom as well as in powerloom Sector as given below:

## Handloom Sector:

## 1. NATIONAL HANDLOOM DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (NHDP):

National  Handloom  Development  Programme  (NHDP)  implemented  during  12 th Plan provides for comprehensive interventions for cluster development, marketing assistance, concessional credit etc. The guidelines of National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP)/ Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) was amended in June/August, 2015  to  include  Block  level  cluster  approach,  which  provides  for  more  flexibility  with  higher funding by Government of India, discontinuation of the State financial contribution, direct release of funds to Implementing Agency, direct transfer of funds in the block with a maximum assistance of  upto  Rs.2.00  crore  for  various  interventions  such  as  setting  up  of  Common  Facility  Centre (CFC) including Common Service Centre (CSC), engagement of textile designer-cum-marketing executive,  construction  of  workshed,    appointment  of  Cluster  Development  Executive  (CDE), technological  up-gradation,  lighting  units,  skill  up-gradation,  better  looms  and  accessories,  etc. Besides,  financial  assistance  of  upto  Rs.50.00  lakh  is  available  for  setting  up  of  dye  house  at district level.

## 2. YARN SUPPLY SCHEME/MIL GATE PRICE SCHEME (YSS/MGPS):

Yarn Supply Scheme is implemented throughout the country to make available all types of yarn at Mill Gate Price to the eligible handloom weavers so as to facilitate regular supply of basic raw materials to the handloom sector and help utilize the full employment potential of the sector.  Under the scheme the freight is reimbursed and depot operating charges @2% is given to depot operating agencies.  At present 932 such yarn depots are functioning throughout the country.

## 3. HANDLOOM  WEAVERS  COMPREHENSIVE  WELFARE  SCHEME (HWCWS):

In order to enable handloom weavers to avail social security benefits, the Government of India has been implementing Handloom Weavers Comprehensive Welfare Scheme (HWCWS) with two components; namely Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana(MGBBY) and Health Insurance Scheme (HIS).  The MGBBY aims to provide insurance cover to handloom weavers in the case of natural or accidental death and in case of total or partial disability.  The HIS aims at enabling the weaver community to access healthcare facilities.

## 4. COMPREHENSIVE HANDLOOM CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT SCHEME(CHCDS) - HANDLOOM MEGA CLUSTER:

The  Comprehensive  Handloom  Cluster  Development  Scheme  (CHCDS)  was introduced  2008-09  for  development  of  Mega  Handloom  Clusters.    Under  the  scheme, there  was  provision  for  each  cluster  to  cover  atleast  25,000  handlooms  with  upper  GoI share  of  Rs.70.00  crore  in  a  period  of  5  years.    The  Comprehensive  Handloom  Cluster Development  Scheme  (CHCDS)  is  under  implementation  during  the  XII  Plan  for development  Mega  Handloom  Clusters.    As  per  the  scheme,  Mega  Handloom  Cluster should  have  atleast  15,000  handlooms  and  funding  upto  Rs.40.00  crore  as  GoI  share  is eligible  per  cluster.    The  guidelines  of  Comprehensive  Handloom  Cluster  Development

Scheme (CHCDS) was amended in August 2015 to include Block level cluster in the line of NHDP Scheme.  Eight Mega Handloom Clusters have been taken up.

The details of financial assistance provided in each scheme is at Annexure-I.

## Powerloom Sector:

The Government of India has launched various schemes for the Powerloom Sector which includes: (i) Integrated  Scheme  for  Powerloom  Sector  Development  (ISPSD) extending assistance for marketing support in the form of Buyer Seller Meet, Yarn Bank, setting  up  of  facility  for  Common  Facility  Centre,  organizing  Seminar/Workshop,  (ii)

In-situ upgradation scheme for plain powerlooms, (iii) Group workshed scheme for giving assistance for constructing workshed for powerloom sector, (iv) Group Insurance scheme for Social Security.    The  details  including  financial  assistance  provided  in  each scheme is enclosed as Annexure-II.

To provide improved working conditions in terms of more space, work environment, improve the work efficiency to enhance their competitiveness in the global market, the Government of India is giving financial assistance for setting up new units under Group Workshed Scheme (GWS). The prime objective of the scheme is to facilitate the establishment of Worksheds for shuttleless looms in an existing or new cluster, which will provide required scale of economy for business operations.

(c): Weavers are being trained and provided skill training so as to make their products attractive  in  the  market  enabling  them  to  fetch  remuneration  prices  in  both  handloom sector as well as in Powerloom sector as under:

## Handloom Sector:

The  skill  development  is  provided  for  handloom  weavers/workers  for  upgrading their skill in weaving, dyeing/printing & design development areas so as to enable them to produce a diversified range of products in keeping with the latest market trends and also to make  their  products  attractive  in  the  market  to  fetch  remunerative  price.      Financial assistance is being provided for Skill up-gradation for the Cluster in a block for imparting training in technical and managerial areas, IT.

## Powerloom Sector:

Powerlooms  in  the  country  by  and  large  remain  in  decentralized  sector  and  the people engaged in this sector are basically unskilled as they have learned the work from their family or by experience without any formal training to upgrade their skill. With the development  and  upgradation  of  the  technology  in  production,  the  demand  for  skilled labour is also increased.  In order to cater the growing demand for the skilled labour, the Ministry of Textiles launched the Integrated Skill Development Scheme (ISDS) in the year 2011. Under ISDS, the Government of India's share towards training cost would be 75% limited to Rs.10,000/- per trainee and the remaining 25% will be met from the training fee collected from the trainees.

15  Powerloom  Service  Centres  under  the  Office  of  the  Textile  Commissioner, implement training under ISDS.

## Annexure-I

## Budget allocation for Handloom Sector (Plan) and funds released during the year 2015-16 & the current year 2016-17 (upto 31.07.2016).

(Rs. in crore)

| PLAN         | PLAN                                          |   BE (2015-16) |     RE |   Expenditure 31.3.2016 |   BE (2016-17) |   Expr. (as on 31.7.2016) |
|--------------|-----------------------------------------------|----------------|--------|-------------------------|----------------|---------------------------|
| 1.           | Handloom Weavers Comprehensive Welfare Scheme |          20    |  18.91 |                   18.61 |             30 |                      6.63 |
| 2.           | Mill Gate Price Scheme/Yarn Supply Scheme     |         150    | 321.96 |                  321.96 |            260 |                    121.35 |
| 3.           | National Handloom Development Programme       |         150    | 135.83 |                  133.96 |            150 |                     36.23 |
| 3(a).        | Trade Facilitation Center and Craft Museum    |          80    |  80.9  |                   79.96 |            107 |                     10    |
| 4.           | CHCDS-Handloom Mega Cluster                   |          94.77 |  37.31 |                   37.26 |             65 |                     11.75 |
| Total (Plan) | Total (Plan)                                  |         494.77 | 594.91 |                  591.75 |            612 |                    185.96 |

## Annexure-II

## Budget allocation and utilisation of funds in respect of Powerloom Sector schemes

(Rs. in Crore)

| Scheme / Programme                     | 2015-16       | 2015-16       | 2016-17(Up to 31.07.2016)   | 2016-17(Up to 31.07.2016)   |
|----------------------------------------|---------------|---------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|                                        | Fund Allotted | Fund Utilized | Fund Allotted               | Fund Utilized               |
| In-situ Upgradation of plain powerloom | 61.55         | 59.185        | 46.00                       | 14.33                       |
| Group Workshed Scheme                  | 20.07         | 20.07         | 20.00                       | 2.88                        |
| Group Insurance Scheme                 | 6.62          | 6.62          | 2.00                        | 0.69                        |
| ISPSD (Schemes )                       | 14.34         | 14.29         | 27.48                       | 7.25                        |
| Total                                  | 102.53        | 100.165       | 95.48                       | 25.15                       |

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