Modernization of Handlooms By Govt Initiatives Discussed in Rajya Sabha

In 2018-19, 29.93 lakh bales have been imported and 42.83 lakh bales exported up to 31.01.2019as per Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS), Kolkata. Set of information was given by the Union Minister of Textiles, Smriti Zubin Irani, in written reply in the Rajya Sabha. Cotton balance sheet including quantity of import and export as finalized by the Cotton Advisory Board (CAB) for last 3 years are as under:

Taking into account demand and supply situation in the country, as per above statement, there is sufficient availability of cotton in the country.

Ministry of Textiles has been implementing –(i) Yarn Supply Scheme throughout the country to make available all types of yarn at mill gate price to handloom weavers. The scheme is being implemented through National Handloom Development Corporation.  Under the Scheme freight is reimbursed and depot operating charges at 2% is given to depot operating agencies.  For Handlooms, a component of 10% price subsidy also exists on hank yarn, which is applicable on cotton, domestic silk, wool and linen yarn with quantity caps.

(ii) In Powerloom sector, Yarn Bank Scheme provides interest free corpus fund of up to Rs.2.00 crores to Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)/ Consortium of Powerloom weavers to enable them to purchase yarn at wholesale rate and give the yarn at reasonable price to the small weavers. 89 Yarn banks are in operation on pan India basis involving interest free corpus fund of Rs.26.17 crores of Government of India.Thereis no scarcity of supply of yarn to the Powerloom weavers.

The Government of India, Ministry of Textiles has been implementing Block Level Cluster under National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP) and Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) for providing skill upgradation training in Weaving, Dyeing, Designing. disciplines  and also provide upgraded looms/accessories to handloom weavers to improve quality of fabric and enhance productivity.Total 436 Block Level Clusters have been sanctioned from 2015-16 to 2019-20 (till 18.11.2019) under NHDP/CHCDS covering 303366 beneficiaries across the country out of this, 52 BLCs have been sanctioned to Tamil Nadu covering 58268 beneficiaries.

For welfare of the Handloom weavers, Life & Accidental insurance coverage is provided to handloom weavers/ workers enrolled under the Pradhan MantriJeevanJyotiBimaYojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha BimaYojana (PMSBY) and converged Mahatma Gandhi BunkarBimaYojana (MGBBY) across the country.  The details of benefits and total annual premium, share i.e. Government of India, LIC and Weavers/ Workers under PMJJBY/ PMSBY & converged MGGBY under Handloom weavers Comprehensive Welfare Scheme is as under:

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.