Lok Sabha Question No. 395 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-02
Subject: Handloom Weavers
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Smt. Malvika Devi

## HANDLOOM WEAVERS

## 395. SMT. MALVIKA DEVI:

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

(a) whether the Government has taken any steps to support existing handloom weavers who are shutting down their operations and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether any incentives, training programmes or schemes are being implemented to encourage newgeneration weavers to take up handloom weaving as a viable profession;

(c) whether the Government proposes to provide any relief or compensation to textile industrialists who have incurred losses due to changes in tariff rates and international trade conditions and if so, the details thereof; and

(d)  the  measures  are  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  promote  Indian  textiles  and  apparel  in international  markets  outside  the  United  States,  particularly  in  emerging  economies,  and  the  results achieved so far?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER

## वस्त्र राज्  य मंत्री ( श्री पबित्र मार्घेररटा )

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES (SHRI PABITRA MARGHERITA)

(a) & (b): No  information  of  shutting  down  of  operations  by  weavers  has  been  received  by  this Ministry.  However,  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, including new generation weavers, across the country. 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 and 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.

Need-based skill upgradation training are conducted for handloom workers/weavers in technical areas viz. weaving, dyeing, printing, designing etc. under SAMARTH - (Scheme for Capacity Building in  Textiles  Sector)  through 29 Weavers' Service Centres (WSCs) and 6 Indian Institute of Handloom Technology (IIHTs) functioning in the country under administrative control of Ministry of Textiles.

(c) & (d): The Ministry of Textiles is regularly monitoring India's export of Textile, Apparel and Made ups to United States and other countries in the world keeping in view the US tariffs on key textile segment. The Ministry is in regular consultation with stakeholders across the textile and apparel value chain. The following measures are taken by the Government in this regard.

Government is implementing Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) scheme for  Apparel/Garments  and  Made-ups  in  order  to  enhance  competitiveness,  based  on  the  principles  of zero-rated exports. Further, textile products not covered under the RoSCTL scheme are covered under Remissions of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) along with other non-textile products.

India  has  signed  15  Free  Trade  Agreements  (FTAs)  and  6  Preferential  Trade  Agreements (PTAs) with various trading partners to boost India's exports by reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers, while enabling preferential market access for Indian goods, including a wide range of textile products.

Further, the Ministry of Textiles has formulated a comprehensive 40-country market diversification strategy, identifying high-potential global destinations for Indian textile exports.

In addition, the Cabinet has approved the Export Promotion Mission, designed as a collaborative framework anchored by the Ministry of Textiles, to synergize policy support, trade facilitation, market promotion, institutional strengthening, and capacity building to foster sustained export growth from the Country including textile sector.

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