As per 3rd handloom census, there are 43.31lakh handloom weavers and allied workers in the country, including Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. A Statement showing State-wise number of handloom weavers and workers is at Annexure-I.
The weaverscooperative societies come under the purview of State Governments.However based on the reports received, so far 1477 societies are not active in the States of Rajasthan(736), Uttar Pradesh(324) and Maharashtra(417).
The Government has promulgated the Handlooms (Reservation of Articles for Production) Act, 1985 to protect the interest of handlooms weavers in the country. 11 textiles articles are exclusively reserved with some technical specifications for production on handlooms.Implementing agencies carry out powerloom inspections to check any violation of the Act. Central Assistance is also provided under the Scheme to the eligible State Governments for effective implementation of the Act. An amount of Rs. 761.67 Lakh has been released during the last three years to the ten eligible State Governments to implement the Act.
The Government of India, Ministry of Textiles is implementing following schemes for promotion & development of handlooms and welfare of handloom weavers across the country:
National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP)
Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS)
Handloom Weavers’ Comprehensive Welfare Scheme (HWCWS)
Yarn Supply Scheme (YSS)
Under the above schemes, financial assistance is provided for raw materials, purchase of looms and accessories, design innovation, product diversification, infrastructure development, skill upgradation, lighting units, marketing of handloom products and loan at concessional rates. Those cooperative societies which are not functioning well can also improve their performance by utilizing the assistance given under these schemes.
National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP)
Block Level Cluster: Introduced in 2015-16 as one of the components of National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP). Financial assistance upto Rs. 2.00 crore per BLC for various interventions such as skill upgradation, Hathkargha Samvardhan Sahayata, product development, construction of workshed, project management cost, design development, setting up of common facility centre (CFC) etc. Is provided. Besides, financial assistance upto Rs. 50.00 lakh is also available for setting up of one dye house at district level. The proposals are recommended by the State Government.
Handloom Marketing Assistance is one of the components of National Handloom Development Programme. In order to provide marketing platform to the handloom agencies/weavers to sell their products directly to the consumers, financial assistance is provided to the States/eligible handloom agencies for organising marketing events in domestic as well as overseas markets.
Weavers’ MUDRA Scheme: Under the Weavers’ Mudra Scheme, credit at concessional interest rate of 6% is provided to the handloom weavers. Margin money assistance to a maximum of Rs. 10,000 per weaver and credit guarantee for a period of 3 years is also provided. MUDRA portal has been developed in association with Punjab National Bank to cut down delay in disbursement of funds for margin money and interest subvention
HATHKARGHA SAMVARDHAN SAHAYATA (HSS)
HathkarghaSamvardhanSahayata (HSS) was introduced on 1st December 2016 with an objective to provide looms/accessories to the weavers to enhance their earnings through improved productivity and quality of the handloom products. Under the scheme, 90% of the cost of loom/accessory is borne by the Government of India while remaining 10% is borne by the beneficiary. The Government of India’s share is released directly in the Bank account of the beneficiary through designated agency.
EDUCATION OF HANDLOOM WEAVERS AND THEIR CHILDREN:
Ministry of Textiles has signed Memorandums of Understanding with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) to secure educational facilities for the weavers and their families. NIOS offers Secondary and Senior Secondary level education with specialized subjects on design, marketing, business development, etc. through distance learning mode for handloom weavers, whereas IGNOU offers continuing education programs through accessible and flexible learning opportunities relevant to the aspirations of handloom weavers and their children for career progression.
Ministry of Textiles is providing reimbursement of 75% of the fee towards admission to NIOS/IGNOU courses in case of SC, ST, BPL, and Women learners belonging to handloom weavers’ families.
“India Handloom” Brand– During the celebration of 7th August 2015 as National Handloom Day, ‘India Handloom’ Brand was launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister for branding of high quality handloom products. It promotes production of niche handloom products with high quality, authentic traditional designs with zero defect and zero effect on environment. Since its launch, 1232 registrations have been issued under 122 product categories and sale of Rs. 689.72 crore as reported on 31-03-2019.
Initiatives with various leading brands has been undertaken to bring out a separate range of handloom garments in their brand.
e-commerce– In order to promote e-marketing of handloom products, a policy frame work was designed and under which any willing e-commerce platform with good track record can participate in online marketing of handloom products. Accordingly, 23 e-commerce entities have been engaged for on-line marketing of handloom products. A total sales of Rs.34.72 crore has been reported through the online portal as on 31-03-2019.
Urban Haats are set up in the big towns/metropolitan cities to provide adequate direct marketing facilities to the craft persons/weavers and eliminate middle agencies. 38 such Urban Haats have been sanctioned across the country so far.
Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme:
The Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) is implemented for development of Mega Handloom Clusters covering atleast 15000 to 25,000 handlooms and financial assistance as Government of India share from Rs. 40.00 to Rs.70.00 crore is in a period of 5 years. 8 mega handloom clusters taken up as announced in the Budgets i.e. Varanasi, Sivasagar (2008-09), Virudhunagar, Murshidabad (2009-10), Prakasam and Guntur districts and Godda& neighboring districts (2012-13), Bhagalpur &Trichy (2014-15).
Under the scheme, components like conducting Diagnostic Study, engaging Designer, Product Development, Corpus for raw material, Construction of Worksheds (for BPL/SC/ST/Women weavers), Skill up-gradation etc. are fully funded by Government of India, while the components like Technology up-gradation, lighting units funded 90% andother common infrastructural projects like Design Studio, Marketing Complex, Value Addition Centres, Publicity etc., are funded by the GOI to the extent of 80%.
Handloom Weavers’ Comprehensive Welfare Scheme
Weavers Comprehensive Welfare Scheme (HWCWS) is providing life, accidental and disability insurance coverage under the components Pradhan Mantri Jivan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha BimaYojana(PMSBY) and Converged Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana(MGBBY).
Yarn Supply Scheme
Yarn Supply Scheme is being implemented throughout the country to make available all types of yarn at Mill Gate Price. The scheme is being implemented through National Handloom Development Corporation. Under the Scheme freight is reimbursed and depot operating charges @2% is given to depot operating agencies. A component of 10% price subsidy also exists on hank yarn, which is applicable on cotton, domestic silk and woolen yarn with quantity caps.
Annexure-I
Details of Statewise number of handloom weavers and allied workers as per 3rd handloom census of 2009-10
| SN | State | No. of handloom weavers & allied workers |
| 1 | Andhra Pradesh | 2,89,809 |
| 2 | Arunachal Pradesh | 33,041 |
| 3 | Assam | 16,43,453 |
| 4 | Bihar | 43,392 |
| 5 | Chhattisgarh | 8,191 |
| 6 | Delhi | 2,738 |
| 7 | Gujarat | 11,009 |
| 8 | Haryana | 7,967 |
| 9 | Himachal Pradesh | 13,458 |
| 10 | Jammu & Kashmir | 33,209 |
| 11 | Jharkhand | 21,160 |
| 12 | Karnataka | 89,256 |
| 13 | Kerala | 14,679 |
| 14 | Madhya Pradesh | 14,761 |
| 15 | Maharashtra | 3,418 |
| 16 | Manipur | 2,18,753 |
| 17 | Mizoram | 43,528 |
| 18 | Meghalaya | 13,612 |
| 19 | Nagaland | 66,490 |
| 20 | Odisha | 1,14,106 |
| 21 | Pondicherry | 2,803 |
| 22 | Punjab | 2,636 |
| 23 | Rajasthan | 31,958 |
| 24 | Sikkim | 568 |
| 25 | Tamil Nadu | 3,52,321 |
| 26 | Telangana | 66,029 |
| 27 | Tripura | 1,37,177 |
| 28 | Uttar Pradesh | 2,57,783 |
| 29 | Uttrakhand | 15,468 |
| 30 | West Bengal | 7,79,103 |
| Total | 43,31,876 | |
This information was given by the Union Minister of Textiles, Smriti Zubin Irani, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
