(a) whether the Government has made provision for providing financial assistance to artisans and weavers under self-employment credit card scheme; and
(b) if so, the number of artisans and weavers benefited under the aforesaid scheme during the last three years ?
MINISTER OF TEXTILES ( SHRI SHANKERSINH VAGHELA)
(a) Yes, Sir. Artisans Credit Card (ACC) scheme is being implemented through banks to smoothen credit flow to handicraft artisans. There is no separate credit card scheme for handloom weavers and they are being covered under Swarojargar Credit Card (SCC) scheme, which is under operation through NABARD.
(b) As reported by banks, the number of artisans covered under ACC in the country since inception of the scheme in 2003-04 is 37,369 upto 31.03.2005. As regards SCC, in addition to handloom weavers and artisans, this scheme covers other vocations also and as per available information from NABARD, vocation-wise segregated figures of number of beneficiaries covered are not maintained.