a) The details of various schemes/programmes undertaken by the Government for promotion and development of handloom and handicraft sector in the country particularly in Jammu & Kashmir;
b) The funds allocated, released and utilised for the purpose during each of the last three years and the current year, state-wise; and
c) The benefit accrued as a result of implementation of these schemes/ programmes?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TEXTILES (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)
(SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)
(a) to (c): A statement is laid on the Table of the House
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARATS (a) TO (c) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*152 FOR ANSWER ON 30.7.2015
(a) The Government of India, Ministry of Textiles through the Office of the Development Commissioner for Handlooms (DCHL) and Development Commissioner for Handicrafts (DCHC) has been implementing the following schemes to promote handloom sector in the country including Jammu & Kashmir :-
SCHEMES IMPLEMENTED THROUGH OFFICE OF DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONER FOR HANDLOOMS -
1. National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP) with the components of-
(i) Revival, Reform & Restructuring (RRR) Package for handloom sector -
Package covers waivers of overdue loan 100% principal and 25% of interest as on 31.3.2010 and recapitalization assistance of eligible apex and primary weavers of the cooperative societies & individual weavers and also provides fresh loan at 6% interest rate alongwith credit guarantee for 3 years. The RRR package was approved for implementation upto 28.2.14.
(ii) Comprehensive Handloom Development Scheme (CHDS) -
CHDS has been formulated by merging all the major components of the schemes namely Integrated Handloom Development Scheme (IHDS), Marketing and Export Promotion Scheme (MEPS) Diversified Handloom Development Scheme(DHDS) implemented during the 11th plan and 2012-13 which is one of the components of National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP) for its implementation during 12th Plan.
2. Handloom weavers Comprehensive Welfare Scheme (HWCWS) –
HWCWS has two components namely Health Insurance Scheme (HIS) and Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana (MGBBY). The HIS which aims at enabling the weavers community to access healthcare facilities has been transferred to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare w.e.f. 01.4.2015. The MGBBY aims to provide insurance cover to handloom weavers in the case of natural as well as accidental death and in cases of total or partial disability. A scholarship of Rs.300/- per quarter per child subject to two children studying in standard IX to XII is also provided under the scheme.
3. Yarn Supply Scheme –
This scheme makes available all types of yarn at Mill Gate Price to the eligible handloom agencies and the transport and depot operating expenses @ 2% are being reimbursed by Government of India. Further, to provide the subsidized yarn to handloom weavers in order to compete with powerloom and mill sector, a new component of 10% price subsidy on cotton hank yarn, domestic silk yarn and woollen yarn is also provided.
4. Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme (development of Mega Handloom Clusters) –
The objective is to develop Mega Handloom Clusters that are located in clearly identifiable geographical locations that specialize in specific products, with close linkages and inter dependents amongst the key players in the cluster by improving the infrastructure facilities, with better storage facilities, technology up-gradation in pre-loom/on-loom/post-loom
operations, weaving shed, skill up-gradation, design inputs, health facilities etc. which would eventually be able to meet the discerning and changing market demands both at domestic and at the international level and raise living standards of the millions of weavers engaged in the handloom industry.
SCHEMES IMPLEMENTED THROUGH OFFICE OF DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONER FOR HANDICRAFTS –
1. Babasaheb Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojana Scheme
This scheme was launched in 2001-02 wherein the main thrust was on adapting project wise, need based approach for integrated development of potential handicrafts clusters with participation of the craft persons at all stages of implementation of the scheme. The overall objective is of socio-economic empowerment of artisans and their sustainability.
2. Design & Technology Upgradation Scheme
The scheme aims to provide design & technology related inputs including skill upgradation to the handicraft artisans to improve their productivity, quality and better marketability of their products. The scheme gives practicing craftsmen exposure to developments, taking place in the field of design & technology and to create awareness about rich crafts tradition amongst general public.
3. Human Resource Development Scheme
The scheme has been formulated to provide qualified and trained workforce to the handicraft sector. It shall contribute to a strong production base leading to production of high quality products that cater to present day market requirement. The scheme also aims to create human capital for sector in terms of trained cadre of designers for the handicrafts by providing relevant inputs through its components.
4. Infrastructure and Technology Development Scheme
The scheme aims at the development of world class infrastructure in the country to support handicraft production, and enhance the product quality and cut the cost to enable it to compete in the world market.
5. Marketing Support & Services Scheme
The scheme aims to promote export of handicrafts including hand knotted carpets and floor coverings in India and abroad. It enables to provide direct marketing outlets to craftpersons living in far flung, remote and hilly areas by participation in various marketing events/historical melas in different cities for augmenting their sales.
6. Research & Development Scheme
The scheme was introduced to generate feedback on economic, social aesthetic and promotional aspects of various crafts and artisans in the sector. The scheme aims to conduct surveys and studies of important crafts and make in depth analysis of specific aspects and problems of Handicrafts in order to generate useful inputs to aid policy, planning and fine tune the ongoing initiatives.
7. Handicraft Artisans Comprehensive Welfare Scheme with the following components
(i) Rajiv Gandhi Shilpi Swasthya Bima Yojana - this scheme aims at financially enabling the artisans’community to access the best of healthcare facilities in the country including J&K. All craft persons will be eligible to be covered under the scheme subject to the conditions as applicable under Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana scheme of Ministry of Labour & Employment.
(ii) Bima Yojana for Handicrafts Artisans (Aam Admi Bima Yojana) - the scheme aims to provide life insurance protection to the handicrafts artisans. All artisans between age group 18-59 years living below & marginally above the poverty line are eligible to get benefit of the scheme.
(iii) Support to artisans in Indigent circumstances - the scheme is proposed to support the artisans during their old age. The non-plan scheme shall be discontinued during the 12th plan.
(iv) Credit Guarantee Scheme - This envisages to alleviate the problem of collateral security or 3rd party guarantee and remove impediments to flow of credit to handicraft sector.
(v) Interest Subvention Scheme - This scheme seeks to facilitate credit access for handicraft artisans through interest subventions for scheduled banks. It is proposed that a 3% interest subvention shall be available for artisans for loans taken from scheduled banks. The admissible amount is upto INR 50,000/- for 3 years.
(b) Details of funds released and utilised during last three years and current year in respect of Handlooms and Handicraft Sector are given at Annexure- I & II.
(c) With implementation of the above schemes, there has been improvement in the following parameters :-
• Productivity has increased
• Average monthly income has gone up
• Working days in a year have gone up
• Increase in sales
• Increase in revenue
• Improvement in skills
• There has been overall improvement in satisfaction of weavers
• Weavers become financially independent and socially more reasonable
• Weavers have credit linkage to Banks through PWCS and SHGs