Textiles Minister Announced National Awards for Women Artisans and Weavers

Noting that only one woman has so far received the Sant Kabir Award, the Minister said that the awards are being instituted from this year, so that women weavers and artisans receive due recognition and economic benefits associated with the Awards. This will be a small tribute to recognise the craft excellence and hard work being put in by millions of women working in their homes, carrying forward the torch of India’s proud handloom and handicraft heritage.

The Minister also launched a special campaign to provide MUDRA Loans to women handloom weavers all across the country. Mrs. Irani said that more than 1,700 women weavers are being given such loans, to start the campaign. Five weavers received MUDRA loans from the Minister, on the occasion.

The Minister also launched a national campaign to eliminate the exploitative and unhygienic practice of thigh reeling in India (thigh reeling of tasar silk is usually practiced by marginal women entrepreneurs, working every day in their homes during spare time). Smt. Irani noted that 30% of the tasar silk produced in India is through the practice of thigh reeling. The Minister said that in order to put an end to this unhygienic and inhuman practice, the Ministry is starting the distribution of woman-friendly Buniyaad Reeling Machines to woman silk reelers. Developed by Central Silk Technological Research Institute that falls under the aegis of Central Silk Board (CSB), Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India, the Buniyaad machine not only reduces the drudgery involved in thigh reeling, but also improves productivity and income. Appreciating CSB for developing the machine, Mrs. Irani expressed the hope that 100% of women silk reelers who produce by thigh reeling, receive the machine and thereby end this inhuman practice. She hoped that the machine becomes affordable for the marginal entrepreneurs, given the 75% subsidy provided by the Government of India. Mrs. Irani distributed replicas of the Buniyaad Reeling Machine to three beneficiaries, as a token of the launch of the initiative.