Lok Sabha Question No. 3917 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-17
Subject: Weavers’ Distress in Nagarkurnool
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Dr. Mallu Ravi

## WEAVERS' DISTRESS IN NAGARKURNOOL

## 3917. DR. MALLU RAVI:

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

(a) whether the Government is aware of the severe distress faced by handloom and powerloom weavers due to  rising  yarn  prices,  lack  of  regular  orders  and  delayed  payments  low  wages  and  cradit  sales  in Nagarkurnool Lok Sabha Constituency, Telangana;

(b)  if  so,  the  details  and  the  number  of  active  handloom  weavers,  defunct  looms  and  closed  units reported in the constituency during the last five years;

(c) whether the benefits under schemes such as raw material supply, marketing support and direct benefit transfers are reaching the eligible weavers in time;

(d) whether the Government has reviewed the ground-level implementation of handloom and powerloom schemes in Nagarkurnool;

(e)  whether  any  proposal  exists  for  yarn  subsidy,  cluster  development  or  revival  package  for  the constituency and if so, the concrete steps taken or proposed to ensure sustainable livelihood and income security for weavers in the region;

(f) the average monthly income of handloom households in the constituency vis-à-vis the minimum wage benchmarks and the details of credit, subsidy and insurance support extended to such weavers during 2023-24 and 2024-25; and

(g)  whether  any  livelihood  sustainability  or  distress  assessment  has  been  undertaken  and  if  so,  the corrective measures proposed to prevent occupational migration of SC/ST weavers?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER

## वस्त्र मंत्री ( श्री गिरििाज ग िंह )

## MINISTER OF TEXTILES (SHRI GIRIRAJ SINGH)

(a) & (b): No  information  on  severe  distress  faced  by  handloom  and  powerloom  weavers  in Nagarkurnool Lok Sabha Constituency, Telangana has been received by this Ministry. According to 4 th All India Handloom Census 2019-20, there are 47,852 handloom workers with 17,095 handlooms in the State of Telangana. Census as well as schemes are done/implemented by State/District-wise and not by constituency-wise.

(c) to (f): Ministry  of  Textiles  is  implementing  central  sector  schemes  such  as  (i)  National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP) and (ii) Raw Material Supply Scheme (RMSS) to promote handlooms and for welfare of handloom weavers across the country including the State of Telangana. Under these  schemes,  financial  assistance  is  provided  to  eligible  handloom  agencies/weavers  for  raw materials, procurement of upgraded looms & accessories, solar lighting units, construction of workshed, skilling,  product  &  design  development,  technical  &  common  infrastructure,  marketing,  concessional loans  under  weavers'  MUDRA  scheme,  social  security,  payment  to  awardee  weavers  in  indigent circumstances, scholarship to the children of weavers  etc.  For Powerloom industry,  central sponsored PowerTex Scheme was implemented up to 2020 and Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS) was also implemented up to 2022.

Before the schemes are continued/ new schemes are formulated, the impact study of the existing schemes are evaluated.

Handloom sector is unorganized and weaving is mainly an individual based household activity to which minimum wages act is not applicable.

(g): In order to encourage SC/ST communities, the Ministry of Textiles provides additional incentives to them to sustain and augment their business. Some of the benefits provided to SC/ST weavers across the country are:

-  Under schemes of handloom sector, preference is given to programmes which have weavers from SC/ST category.
-  There  is  100%  subsidy  to  SC/ST  weavers  for  construction  of  work  sheds  under  National Handloom Development Programme.

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