Question : PLIGHT OF HANDLOOM WEAVERS OF ANDHRA PRADESH

(a) whether Federation of Andhra Pradesh Handloom weavers` Association deplored the step-motherly attitude adopted by the Union and the State Government towards the handloom weavers of the state;

(b) whether the Government`s failure in giving encouragement to weavers societies, over 3 crore families all over the country are affected and thrown into poverty;

(c) whether the Andhra Pradesh State Handloom Cooperative Society (APCO) is yet to clear the arrears over Rs. 13 crore to various handloom units;

(d) if so, whether they have pointed out that unless onslaught of power loom sector is not checked, the handloom sector would be totally wiped out; and

(e) if so, the steps the Union Government propose to take to help the handloom weavers of Andhra Pradesh?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES ( SHRI V. DHANANJAYA KUMAR )

(a) & (b) No Sir, to ensure sustainable livelihood and an improved standard of living for Weavers, Government of India has been financing the State Governments to implement a series of developmental and welfare schemes such as Workshed-cum-Housing Scheme, Health Package Scheme, Thrift Fund Scheme, Insurance Schemes and Deen Dayal Hathkargha Protsahan Yojana

(c) The State Government of Andhra Pradesh has informed that they have released Rs. 4.07 crores to APCO for payment of dues to Primary Handloom Weavers Cooperatives and have initiated steps to clear off remaining dues.

(d) & (e) The Handloom (Reservation of Articles for Production) Act 1985, is in vogue under which 11 categories of Textiles articles are exclusively reserved for the handloom sector. The Central Government is also providing financial assistance for various developmental and welfare schemes including the recently launched Scheme called the Deen Dayal Hathkargha Protsahan Yojana to ensure integrated development of the handloom sector all over the country including Andhra Pradesh.