Lok Sabha Question No. 1268 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-03
Subject: Hardships Faced by Handloom Weavers and Artisans
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: BHANU PRATAP SINGH VERMA, AJAY NISHAD, VIRENDRA  KUMAR, MEENAKASHI LEKHI, POONAM  MAHAJAN, JASVANTSINH SUMANBHAI BHABHOR, ELUMALAI VELLAIGOUNDER, CHANDRAKANT BHAURAO KHAIRE, SHIVKUMAR CHANABASAPPA UDASI

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1268 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.03.2016

## HARDSHIPS FACED BY HANDLOOM WEAVERS AND ARTISANS

## 1268.   SHRI BHANU PRATAP SINGH VERMA:

SHRI AJAY NISHAD:

DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR:

SHRIMATI MEENAKASHI LEKHI:

SHRIMATI POONAM MAHAJAN:

SHRI JASVANTSINH SUMANBHAI BHABHOR:

SHRI V. ELUMALAI:

SHRI CHANDRAKANT KHAIRE:

SHRI SHIVKUMAR UDASI:

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

- (a) the details of hardships being faced by the handloom and powerloom weavers and artisans  including  the  number  of  handloom  and  powerloom  weavers  and  artisans  in  the country including Uttar Pradesh at present, State-wise;
- (b) the details of schemes being implemented for their development and welfare in the country including the financial assistance provided during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise;
- (c) whether  the  weavers  and  artisans  have  become  unemployed  due  to  increase  in power  tariff  in  the  country  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  steps  taken  by  the Government to impart them  training  under  the  Kaushal  Vikas  Yojana  and  to  safeguard their interests;
- (d) whether the funds prescribed for development and welfare of weavers and artisans are not being fully utilized, if so, the details thereof and reasons therefor and the action taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government for the development and promotion of handloom, powerloom and handicraft sectors along with the funds provided for the said purpose during the said period, State-wise?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER

## वस्त्र राज् य मंरी (स्त्वतंर प्रभार) (श्री संतोष क ु मार गंगवार)

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF TEXTILES (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

- (a): There are 43.31 lakh handloom weavers, 62.72 lakh workers in the Powerloom sector and 68.86 lakh artisans in the Handicrafts sector in the country including Uttar Pradesh.

The  issues  affecting  Handloom  weavers,  Powerloom  workers  and  artisans  in  handicraft sectors include pre-weaving facilities, yarn price volatility, shortage of skilled manpower, absence of market intelligence, low productivity, competition from organized sector, high cost of finance and insufficient credit flow from institutional sources.

(b)  to  (e): Various  development  schemes  have  been  launched  by  the  Government  to address  the  problems  faced  by  weavers/artisans  and  also  to  ensure  the  development  & welfare  of  powerloom,  handloom  and  handicraft  sectors.  These  include  Technology Upgradation  Fund  Scheme  (TUFS),  Schemes  for  Powerloom  Sector  Development, Integrated Skill Development Scheme (ISDS), National Handicraft Development Programme [NHDP], National Handloom Development Programme, Handloom Weavers Comprehensive Welfare Scheme, Yarn supply Scheme, Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme, etc. The details of funds provided for the development and welfare of handloom, powerloom and handicraft sectors during each of the last three years and the current year are given in Annexure-I . These schemes are implemented on pan India basis. State wise allocation of funds are not made.

While  increase  in  power  tariff  affects  the  profitability  of  powerloom  sector,  no specific  report  have  been  received  of  any  weaver/worker  becoming  unemployed  due  to increase in power tariff in the country.

The  funds  for  the  development  and  welfare  of  weavers  and  artisans  are  being utilized and utilization certificates from concerned are being received from time to time. Further  the  fields  units  /  offices  of  the  various  attached  and  subordinate  offices  under Ministry  of  Textiles  located  throughout  the  country  monitor  the  activity  for  effective implementation of Schemes / Programmes including utilization of funds.

| Annexure-I   | Annexure-I         | Annexure-I          | Annexure-I          | Annexure-I          | Annexure-I               | Annexure-I                   |
|--------------|--------------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|--------------------------|------------------------------|
|              |                    |                     |                     |                     | Annual Plan 2015-16      | Annual Plan 2015-16          |
| Sr. No.      | Name of the Sector | Actual Exp. 2012-13 | Actual Exp. 2013-14 | Actual Exp. 2014-15 | Final Allocation 2015-16 | Actual Exp. as on 29.02.2016 |
| 1            | 2                  | 3                   | 4                   | 5                   | 6                        | 7                            |
| 1            | Handloom           | 737.93              | 550.00              | 404.25              | 594.74                   | 539.39                       |
| 2            | Handicraft         | 162.26              | 142.13              | 102.18              | 239.75                   | 157.61                       |
| 3            | Powerlooms         | 12.57               | 13.09               | 51.52               | 104.96                   | 71.02                        |
|              | GRAND TOTAL        | 912.76              | 705.22              | 557.95              | 939.45                   | 768.02                       |