Question : Upliftment of Handloom Sector

(a) whether the Union Government has received any request from various States including West Bengal for upliftment of handloom sector and if so, the details thereof alongwith the financial assistance provided by the Government during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise;

(b) the measures taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to rejuvenate the handloom sector, State/UT-wise;

(c) whether there is any proposal to convert handlooms into power looms and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the steps being taken by the Government to empower the handloom weavers in the country?

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

(a), (b) & (d): The Government of India, Ministry of Textiles through the office of Development Commissioner (Handlooms) has been implementing the following schemes for development of handlooms and welfare of handloom weavers across the country, including West Bengal:-

(1) National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP)
(2) Yarn Supply Scheme (YSS) - under this scheme, funds are released to National Handloom Development Corporation, Lucknow
(3) Handloom Weavers Comprehensive Welfare Scheme (HWCWS) – under this scheme, funds are released to Life Insurance Corporation of India for life insurance (on-going) and ICICI Lombard for health insurance (upto 30.09.2014).
(4) Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) (for development of 8 mega handloom Clusters i.e. Varanasi, Sivasagar, Trichy, Bhagalpur, Virudhunagar, Prakasam & Guntur districts, Murshidabad and Godda & neighbouring districts).

Under NHDP (provides for financial assistance for cluster development programmes, marketing etc.), proposals are received from time to time from the various States, including West Bengal and funds are released in respect of viable proposals, subject to availability of funds. A statement showing details of financial assistance released under NHDP during the last 3 years and current year (till date) is annexed.

The Govt. of India has taken various initiatives for development and promotion of handlooms. This includes adoption of Block level cluster approach, launch of India Handloom Brand, introduction of 4 years degree course in Indian Institute of Handloom Technolog(Salem), implementation of Weavers MUDRA Scheme on experimental basis in Varanasi and Bhubaneswar, introduction of certificate course on Handloom Entrepreneur of Indian Institutes of Handloom Technology etc.

(c): No, Madam.