(a) the number of handloom weavers in the country, State/UT-wise;
(b) whether the economic/financial and health conditions of handloom weavers are very critical in the country;
(c) if so, the average per capita income of handloom weavers in the country, State/UT-wise;
(d) the percentage of handloom weavers are living below poverty line, State/ UT-wise; and
(e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to improve the economic and health condition of the handloom weavers in the country?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF TEXTILES (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)
(a): As per all India Handloom Census (2009-10) there are 43,31,876 handloom weavers & allied workers across the country. State-wise details are at Annexure-I.
(b): Handloom Sector is an unorganized Sector. The economic/financial and health conditions of handloom weavers are not very critical in the country however handloom weavers are having weak financial base.
(c) & (d): Information about the average per capita income of handloom weavers in the country is not available. However, as per all India Handloom Census (2009-10), the number of 43,31,876 handloom weavers & allied workers constitutes 27,83,271 handloom households from across the country. As per handloom census 2009-10, the average annual income of handloom households is Rs.36,498/-. Out of 27,83,271 handloom households, 2,70,915 handloom households are having AAY ration cards and 10,26,696 handloom households are having BPL ration cards which indicates that 46.62% handloom households are living below the poverty line in the country. State-wise details are at Annexure-II.
(e): To improve the economic and health condition of handloom weavers, Government of India is implementing following schemes/programmes to boost income of handloom weavers and to support and promote the handloom sector:
(i) National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP) (ii)Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme(CHCDS) (iii)Yarn Supply Scheme (iv)Handloom Weavers Comprehensive Welfare SchemeTo enable the weaver community to access healthcare facilities, Health Insurance scheme was implemented upto 30.9.2014 by the Office of Development Commissioner (Handlooms). The scheme is now being implemented on Rastriya Swasthya Bima Yojanana (RSBY) platform by Ministry of Labour & Employment (MoLE) with enhanced benefits of Rs.37500/- (Rs.7500 and Rs.30000/- for OP & IP treatment respectively) for a family of five members. Apart from this, the Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana aims to provide insurance cover of Rs.60,000 to handloom weavers in the case of natural death, Rs.1,50,000/- on accidental death/total disability and Rs.75,000/- for partial disability. In addition, scholarship of Rs.300/- per quarter per child is available to student studying in IX to XII standard or for a maximum period of four years, whichever event occurs earlier. The benefit is restricted to two children of member covered.