Question : TRADITIONAL WEAVING INDUSTRIES

(a) whether the weavers engaged in traditional weaving industry have become unemployed due to increase in production cost in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard;

(c) whether the Government has any proposal to provide electricity at concessional rates and bank loans to the poor weavers in the State of West Bengal so as to save them from unemployment; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reason therefore ?

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

(a) & (b): The handloom sector being unorganised and rural based, the data regarding no of weavers unemployed due to increase in production cost is not available, however, as per handloom census 2009-10, 43.32 lakh weavers and allied workers are employed in the handloom sector. The Government is aware that handloom weavers are facing stiff completion from powerloom and mill sector due to low productivity, higher cost of input material and non availability of subsidized credit etc. For sustainable development of weavers of handloom sector, the Ministry of Textiles, through various schemes and programmes is facilitating marketing of handloom products, infrastructure development, brand building, training and skill upgradation, infusion of new and contemporary designs through design intervention as well as product diversification, technology upgradation, easy access to raw material at subsidized prices and easy credit flow at low interest rate etc., besides providing better health care and life insurance under welfare schemes. With this objective, following schemes have been approved for implementation during 12th Plan:-

1. National Handloom Development Programme- two components:-

(i) Comprehensive Handlooms Development Scheme (3 schemes of 11th Plan merged into this scheme. These schemes were Integrated Handlooms Development Scheme, Marketing and Export Promotion Scheme and Diversified Handlooms Development Scheme).

(ii) Revival, Reform and Restructuring (RRR) Package for handloom sector.

2. Handloom Weavers Comprehensive Welfare Scheme- two components:-

(i) Health Insurance Scheme for access to health care facilities

(ii) Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana for life insurance

3. Yarn Supply Scheme

4. Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme

c) & (d): There is no proposal with Government to provide electricity at concessional rate to weavers as electricity supply is state subject, however government has approved concessional credit to access subsidized loan from banks at 6% interest for handloom weavers throughout India including West Bengal.