Question : Welfare of Handloom Weavers

(a) whether the Government has taken note of difficulties faced by the handloom weavers and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the details of the funds allocated, released and spent under various welfare schemes for handloom weavers during the last three years, State-wise;

(c) the details of achievements in providing marketing facilities to the weavers and the total number of weavers benefited during the said period, State-wise;

(d) whether the handloom weavers are facing competition from the powerloom and mill sectors; and

(e) if so, the steps being taken by the Government for welfare of the handloom weavers?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES
(SHRI AJAY TAMTA)

(a) & (b): The Government is aware of the difficulties faced by the handloom weavers and in order to mitigate their problems, the Government of India is providing them financial support through the following developmental and welfare schemes across the country:-

(i) National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP)
(ii) Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS)
(iii) Handloom Weavers’ Comprehensive Welfare Scheme (HWCWS)
(iv) Yarn Supply Scheme (YSS)

Under the above schemes, financial assistance is provided for raw materials, purchase of looms and accessories, design innovation, product diversification, infrastructure development, skill upgradation, marketing of handloom products, loan at concessional rates etc.

Details of funds allocated and released to the implementing agencies under the above schemes in the last three years and the current year, till date is at Annexure-I.

(c): The details of marketing events sanctioned, funds released, the number of beneficiaries covered and sales generated during the marketing events in the last three years and the current year are at Annexure-II.

(d) & (e): The handloom sector is unorganised sector and mainly located in rural areas. The handloom cloth is produced by hand on looms without the use of power/electricity etc. Due to this, the productivity of handloom products is low compared to powerloom and mill sectors and hence the cost of production of handloom products is on the higher side in many cases. On the other hand, the handloom products are known for their eco-friendliness, intricate and exquisite design, which cannot be replicated by powerlooms. Under Handloom (Reservation of Articles for Production) Act, 1986, 11 items with certain technical specifications are reserved for exclusive production on handlooms. The Act is being implemented by the Central and the State Government’s enforcement agencies by way of carrying out powerloom inspection in the field. The Government is promoting the handloom sector through implementation of schemes mentioned in para (a).