Question : Conference of Women Artisans

(a) whether the Government has organized conference of women artisans/weavers at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi recently and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the major issues discussed in the conference and the outcome thereof;

(c) The steps taken to achieve the aims and objectives of the conferences;

(d) whether the Government has taken any steps to encourage women artisans/weavers to become self-reliant and if so, the details thereof;

(e) The steps taken/being taken by the Government to empower women weavers in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES
(SHRI AJAY TAMTA)

(a): Yes, Madam. Government has organized a conference of women artisans/weavers at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on 8th March, 2017.

(b) to (e): On the occasion of International Women’s Day, during the conference Hon’ble Minister of Textiles discussed conferring of special National Awards on handicrafts artisans, Mudra loans to women handloom weavers across the country need to launch a national wide campaign to eliminate the exploitative and unhygienic practices of thigh reeling in India and problems faced by women artisans in the country. The Minister also interacted with women beneficiaries of various schemes of the Ministry, at nine different locations across the country, through video conferencing:-

(i) A new category awards ‘Kamaladevi Chattopadhya National Award’ specially for women handloom weavers and handicrafts artisans was announced.

(ii) Buniyaad Reeling Machines were distributed to woman silk reelers to put an end to unhygienic and inhuman practice of the high reeling.

(iii) ‘Handloom Weaver MUDRA Portal’ was launched which will enable quick transfer of margin money and interest subvention amount.

(iv) Three Scheduled Artisans Cluster Projects and two Scheduled Tribe Artisans Cluster Projects were taken up mainly for women beneficiaries in Madhubani Painting, Embroidery craft and Embroidery with mirror work craft.

(v) Memorandums of Undertaking was signed on the occasion, between the Development Commissioner (Handlooms) and Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles and National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, with the main objective of increasing earnings of handloom weavers artisans and artisans belonging to backward classes, who work in the handloom and handicrafts sectors. NBCFDC has been sanctioned 11 clusters at a project cost of Rs.1,37,50,000/- .

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