(a) whether the Government are aware of the demand for the creation of a separate bank exclusively to tackle the financial needs of the handloom sector,
(b) if so, the steps being taken to meet the demands;
(c) the present Institutional lending arrangements available for the weavers in and out of cooperative fold;
(d) whether there is any proposal to create national fund for revival of the handloom sector;
(e) if so, the details thereof; and
(f) if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES (SHRI V. DHANANJAYA KUMAR)
(a) to (f) No formal demand has been received in the Ministry of Textiles for the setting up of a bank exclusively for the disbursal of credit in the handloom sector. However, in certain meetings this issue has come up for discussion. Since institutional credit facilities are already currently available for the handloom sector from organizations like the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), State Financial Institutions as well as National Institutions like the National SC & ST Finance and Development Corporation, National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation and the National Minorities Finance and Development Corporation, the need for the setting up of a separate bank to exclusively finance the handloom sector is not felt.