(a) the States where handloom industry occupies an important position;
(b) the contribution of this industry to the GDP;
(c) whether many handloom units have been closed down during the last decade;
(d) if so, the number of workers who have been rendered jobless;
(e) whether terminal benefits like PF, Gratuity etc. have been disbursed to these workers; and
(f) if not, the initiative taken by the Ministry in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TEXTILES (SHRI E.V.K.S. ELANGOVAN)
(a) The States where handloom industry occupies an important position are as under :-
1. Andhra Pradesh
2. Assam
3. Karnataka
4. Manipur
5. Nagaland
6. Orissa
7. Tamilnadu
8. Tripura
9. Uttar Pradesh
10. West Bengal
(b) The textile industry contributes about 4% to the GDP. The contribution of handloom industry in regard to production of fabrics in the textile sector, excluding khadi, wool and silk, is about 13%.
(c) to (e) The information is being collected from the States and will be laid
on the Table of the House.
(f) The Government has been implementing a number of schemes for the development of the handloom sector and welfare of handloom weavers, such as, Deen Dayal Hathkargha Protsahan Yojana, Marketing Promotion Programme, Handloom Export Scheme, Mill Gate Price Scheme, Design Development and Training Programme, Workshed-cum-Housing Scheme, Integrated Handloom Training Project, Weavers Welfare Scheme comprising – Thrift Fund Scheme, New Insurance Scheme and Implementation of Handlooms (Reservation of Articles for Production) Act, 1985.
Several Schemes, including schemes for life insurance and health insurance were announced in the last Budget for the handloom sector. They are being implemented. The Cluster Development approach will continue. It is proposed to cover an additional 100 clusters at a cost of Rs.50 crore in 2006-07. Yarn depots will be established in different parts of the country to ensure uninterrupted supply of yarn to weavers. It is also proposed to launch a ‘handloom’ mark. A scheme similar to TUFS will be introduced for the handloom sector to provide interest subsidy.