GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF TEXTILES

LOK SABHA

UNSTARREDQUESTION NO: 1543

ANSWERED ON: 03.12.2012

PRODUCTION OF HANDLOOM 

(a) whether certain products are still reserved for exclusive production by the handloom industry and applicable under the Handloom (Reservation of Articles for Production) Act; 

(b) if so, the details thereof and the names of the products reserved for exclusive production by the handloom industry during the current year along with the status of implementation of the said Act;

  (c) whether the Government has coordinated with the States for strict implementation of the said Act; 

(d) if so, the details thereof along with the action taken by the Government against those who are not implementing the said Act; 

(e) whether the powerloom products which are mass produced and cheaper, have affected the livelihood of several handloom weavers across the country; and 

(f) if so, the details thereof along with any action plan in this regard chalked out by the Government in a holistic manner? 

ANSWER

(a) & (b): Eleven textiles articles are reserved for exclusive production by handlooms. These 11 items with certain technical specifications are 1) Saree, 2) Dhoti, 3) Towel, Gamcha and Angawastaram, 4) Lungi, 5) Khes, Bedsheet, Bedcover, Counterpane, Furnishing (including tapestry, upholstery), 6) Jamakkalam Durry or Durret, 7)Dress Material, 8) Barrack Blankets, Kambal or Kamblies, 9) Shawl, Loi, Muffler, Pankhi etc., 10) Woollen Tweed, 11) Chaddar, MekhalaPhanek. 

(c) & (d): The State Governments are the implementing agencies for enforcement of the Handlooms Reservation Act in their States. The Government of India coordinates with States and provides financial assistance to the State Governments for setting up of Enforcement Machinery at state level for effective implementation of the Act. As per the reports received from the State Governments, 2,78,276 Powerlooms were inspected during 2011-12 and 29 FIRs were lodged for violation of the Act. During the current year till Oct. 2012, 1,47,014 Powerlooms have been inspected and 63 FIRs have been lodged for violation of the Act. 

(e) & (f): The Government is aware that handlooms weavers face stiff competition from Powerlooms and Mill Sector due to technological constraints and lower productivity of handlooms in comparison to Powerlooms. For the overall and holistic development of handloom sector, the Government of India is implementing following 5 plan schemes:- 

i) Integrated Handlooms Development Scheme

  ii) Handloom Weavers Comprehensive Welfare Scheme 

iii) Market and Export Promotion Scheme 

iv) Mill Gate Price Scheme

  v) Diversified Handloom Development Scheme 

The Government has also taken following steps for handloom sector:-   

i) In order to clear the choked credit lines of handloom sector, the Government has approved a Financial Package for loan waiver for handloom sector. It includes one-time waiver of overdue loans and interest of eligible handloom cooperative societies and individual weavers as on 31st March, 2010. 

ii) To enabling handloom weavers to access the subsidied credit, the Government has approved Weavers Credit Card and is providing margin money assistance  Rs. 4200- per weaver, 3 interest subvention and credit guarantee to such loan by CGTMSE. 

 iii) To ensure the availability cheap yarn to handloom weavers in order to compete with powerlooms and mill sector, Government is providing 10 price subsidy on cotton and silk yarn to handlooms weavers and their Cooperative Societies.