Question : Welfare Schemes for Handloom Weavers

(a) the details of the Welfare Schemes being implemented for handloom weavers and the details of the funds allocated, released and spent under these schemes during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise;

(b) the success achieved so far in providing marketing facilities to the weavers and the total number of weavers benefited from these schemes during the said period, State-wise;

(c) whether the handloom weavers and members of their families are committing suicides due to financial crises;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the total number of weavers who had committed suicide during the said period and the steps taken by the Government for the welfare of their families;

(e) whether any Mega cluster meant for weavers engaged in cottage industry has been sanctioned at Sohabad Tehsil of Hardoi district; and

(f) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES
(SHRI AJAY TAMTA)

(a): The Government of India through the office of the Development Commissioner for Handlooms has been implementing the following schemes for the welfare of the handloom weavers and development of the handloom sector in the country:-

1. National Handloom Development Programme (with following components)
(i) Block Level Cluster
(ii) Handloom Marketing Assistance
(iii) Concessional credit/weavers Mudra Scheme
(iv) Handloom Census
2. Handloom Weavers’ Comprehensive Welfare Scheme
3. Yarn Supply Scheme
4. Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme

Under the above mentioned schemes, funds are allocated Scheme-wise. The details of funds allocated, released/spent under the above mentioned schemes during each of the last three years and the current year are as under: -

(Rs. in Crore)
SN Name of Scheme Fund allocated, Released/spent
Funds allocated Funds released/spent Funds allocated Funds released/spent Funds allocated Funds released/spent Funds allocated Funds released/spent
2014-15 2015-16 2016-17
2017-18
(till date )
1. National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP) in all components 292.00 227.39 135.83 133.96 167.53 153.56 146.00 15.56
2. Handloom Weavers Comprehensive Welfare Scheme 57.50 42.25 18.91 18.61 26.56 26.56 32.00 7.00
3. Yarn Supply Scheme 130.00 127.81 321.96 321.96 261.50 261.35 242.00 161.93
4. Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme 18.00 14.45 37.31 37.26 50.00 40.11 44.00 3.92
Total 497.50 411.90 594.91 591.75 682.59 658.42 604.00 209.62

(b): The Handloom Marketing Assistance component of the National Handloom Development Programme has been facilitating the handloom weavers to sell their products directly to the customers by eliminating the middlemen, by way of participation in the domestic and overseas marketing events funded under this component. During the last three years, 849 marketing events were funded with financial assistance of Rs. 151.90 crore in the country and 8,46,900 weavers were benefited under these marketing events.

(c) & (d): No such report has been received from any State Government about suicides of weavers due to financial crises.

(e) & (f): Presently no Mega cluster has been sanctioned in Sohabad Tehsil of Hardoi. However, one Mega handloom cluster is already functioning in Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.


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