Source : www.pib.nic.

in Date : 2019-07-20

HANDLOOM WEAVERS
Relevant for: Indian Economy | Topic: Issues Related to Poverty, Inclusion, Employment & Sustainable
Development

Ministry of Textiles

Handloom Weavers
Posted On: 19 JUL 2019 5:19PM by PIB Delhi

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As per 3rd handloom census, there are 43.31lakh handloom weavers and allied workers in the
country, including Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. A Statement showing State-wise
number of handloom weavers and workers is at Annexure-I.

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The weaverscooperative societies come under the purview of State Governments.However
based on the reports received, so far 1477 societies are not active in the States of
Rajasthan(736), Uttar Pradesh(324) and Maharashtra(417).
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The Government has promulgated the Handlooms (Reservation of Articles for Production) Act,
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1985 to protect the interest of handlooms weavers in the country. 11 textiles articles are
exclusively reserved with some technical specifications for production on
handlooms.Implementing agencies carry out powerloom inspections to check any violation of the
Act. Central Assistance is also provided under the Scheme to the eligible State Governments for
effective implementation of the Act. An amount of Rs. 761.67 Lakh has been released during the
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last three years to the ten eligible State Governments to implement the Act.
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The Government of India, Ministry of Textiles is implementing following schemes for promotion &
development of handlooms and welfare of handloom weavers across the country:
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National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP)

Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS)

Handloom Weavers’ Comprehensive Welfare Scheme (HWCWS)

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, lighting units, marketing of handloom products and loan at concessional rates.
Those cooperative societies which are not functioning well can also improve their performance
by utilizing the assistance given under these schemes.

National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP)

Block Level Cluster: Introduced in 2015-16 as one of the components of National

Handloom Development Programme (NHDP). Financial assistance upto Rs. 2.00 crore
per BLC for various interventions such as skill upgradation, Hathkargha Samvardhan

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Sahayata, product development, construction of workshed, project management cost,
design development, setting up of common facility centre (CFC) etc. Is provided. Besides,
financial assistance upto Rs. 50.00 lakh is also available for setting up of one dye house
at district level. The proposals are recommended by the State Government.

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Handloom Marketing Assistance is one of the components of National Handloom
Development Programme. In order to provide marketing platform to the handloom
agencies/weavers to sell their products directly to the consumers, financial assistance is
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provided to the States/eligible handloom agencies for organising marketing events in
domestic as well as overseas markets.
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Weavers’ MUDRA Scheme: Under the Weavers’ Mudra Scheme, credit at concessional
interest rate of 6% is provided to the handloom weavers. Margin money assistance to a
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maximum of Rs. 10,000 per weaver and credit guarantee for a period of 3 years is also
provided. MUDRA portal has been developed in association with Punjab National Bank to
cut down delay in disbursement of funds for margin money and interest subvention
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HATHKARGHA SAMVARDHAN SAHAYATA (HSS)

HathkarghaSamvardhanSahayata (HSS) was introduced on 1 st December 2016 with an

objective to provide looms/accessories to the weavers to enhance their earnings through
improved productivity and quality of the handloom products. Under the scheme, 90% of the cost
of loom/accessory is borne by the Government of India while remaining 10% is borne by the
beneficiary. The Government of India’s share is released directly in the Bank account of the
beneficiary through designated agency.

EDUCATION OF HANDLOOM WEAVERS AND THEIR CHILDREN:

Ministry of Textiles has signed Memorandums of Understanding with Indira Gandhi National
Open University (IGNOU) and National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) to secure educational
facilities for the weavers and their families. NIOS offers Secondary and Senior Secondary level
education with specialized subjects on design, marketing, business development, etc. through
distance learning mode for handloom weavers, whereas IGNOU offers continuing education
programs through accessible and flexible learning opportunities relevant to the aspirations of
handloom weavers and their children for career progression.

Ministry of Textiles is providing reimbursement of 75% of the fee towards admission to

NIOS/IGNOU courses in case of SC, ST, BPL, and Women learners belonging to handloom
weavers’ families.

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“India Handloom” Brand- During the celebration of 7th August 2015 as National Handloom

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Day, ‘India Handloom’ Brand was launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister for branding of high
quality handloom products. It promotes production of niche handloom products with high quality,
authentic traditional designs with zero defect and zero effect on environment. Since its launch,
1232 registrations have been issued under 122 product categories and sale of Rs. 689.72 crore
as reported on 31-03-2019. S.
Initiatives with various leading brands has been undertaken to bring out a separate range of
handloom garments in their brand.
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e-commerce- In order to promote e-marketing of handloom products, a policy frame work

was designed and under which any willing e-commerce platform with good track record
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can participate in online marketing of handloom products. Accordingly, 23 e-commerce

entities have been engaged for on-line marketing of handloom products. A total sales of
Rs.34.72 crore has been reported through the online portal as on 31-03-2019.
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Urban Haats are set up in the big towns/metropolitan cities to provide adequate direct
marketing facilities to the craft persons/weavers and eliminate middle agencies. 38 such
Urban Haats have been sanctioned across the country so far.

Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme:

The Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) is implemented for

development of Mega Handloom Clusters covering atleast 15000 to 25,000 handlooms and
financial assistance as Government of India share from Rs. 40.00 to Rs.70.00 crore is in a
period of 5 years. 8 mega handloom clusters taken up as announced in the Budgets i.e.
Varanasi, Sivasagar (2008-09), Virudhunagar, Murshidabad (2009-10), Prakasam and Guntur
districts and Godda& neighboring districts (2012-13), Bhagalpur &Trichy (2014-15).
Under the scheme, components like conducting Diagnostic Study, engaging Designer, Product
Development, Corpus for raw material, Construction of Worksheds (for BPL/SC/ST/Women
weavers), Skill up-gradation etc. are fully funded by Government of India, while the components
like Technology up-gradation, lighting units funded 90% andother common infrastructural
projects like Design Studio, Marketing Complex, Value Addition Centres, Publicity etc., are
funded by the GOI to the extent of 80%.

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Handloom Weavers’ Comprehensive Welfare Scheme

Weavers Comprehensive Welfare Scheme (HWCWS) is providing life, accidental and disability
insurance coverage under the components Pradhan Mantri Jivan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY),

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Pradhan Mantri Suraksha BimaYojana(PMSBY) and Converged Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima
Yojana(MGBBY).

Yarn Supply Scheme

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Yarn Supply Scheme is being implemented throughout the country to make available all types of
yarn at Mill Gate Price. The scheme is being implemented through National Handloom
Development Corporation. Under the Scheme freight is reimbursed and depot operating
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charges @2% is given to depot operating agencies. A component of 10% price subsidy also
exists on hank yarn, which is applicable on cotton, domestic silk and woolen yarn with quantity
caps.

Annexure-I
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Details of Statewise number of handloom weavers and allied workers as per 3rd handloom
census of 2009-10
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No. of handloom weavers

SN State
& allied workers
1 Andhra Pradesh 2,89,809
2 Arunachal Pradesh 33,041
3 Assam 16,43,453
4 Bihar 43,392
5 Chhattisgarh 8,191
6 Delhi 2,738
7 Gujarat 11,009
8 Haryana 7,967
 9 Himachal Pradesh 13,458
10 Jammu & Kashmir 33,209
11 Jharkhand 21,160
12 Karnataka 89,256
13 Kerala 14,679
14 Madhya Pradesh 14,761
15 Maharashtra 3,418
16 Manipur 2,18,753

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17 Mizoram 43,528
18 Meghalaya 13,612
19 Nagaland 66,490

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20 Odisha 1,14,106
21 Pondicherry 2,803
22 Punjab 2,636
23 Rajasthan 31,958
24 Sikkim
S. 568
25 Tamil Nadu 3,52,321
26 Telangana 66,029
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27 Tripura 1,37,177
28 Uttar Pradesh 2,57,783
29 Uttrakhand 15,468
30 West Bengal 7,79,103
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Total 43,31,876
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This information was given by the Union Minister of Textiles, Smriti Zubin Irani, in a written reply
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in the Lok Sabha today.

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MM/SB

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