Handloom Industry of India
As an economic activity and in terms of employment generation, the handloom sector occupies a place second only to agriculture. This sector is, however, is confronted with various problems, such as, obsolete technology, unorganized production system, low productivity, inadequate working capital, conventional product range, weak marketing links leading to accumulation of stocks at various levels etc.
Production Status:
- Production in the handloom sector recorded a figure of 6677 million sq. meters in the year 2008- 09, which is about 21.55% over the production figure of 5493 million sqr. meters recorded in the year 2003-04.
Integrated Handlooms Development Scheme
The Integrated Handlooms Development Scheme (IHDS) has been launched with a view to develop holistically and comprehensively the weavers’ clusters throughout the country. Under the scheme, clusters having about 300 – 500 looms under each, are taken up for development in a time frame of 3 years at an upper cost of ` 60.00 lakh per cluster. 403 Handloom clusters have been taken, up to December 2009.
Handloom Weavers’ Comprehensive Welfare Scheme
Handloom Weavers’ Comprehensive Welfare Scheme is a comprehensive scheme which has two components viz. Health Insurance Scheme and Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana. Both of these schemes were working independently and now they have been amalgamated.
- Health Insurance Scheme The Health Insurance Scheme (HIS) is implemented through the ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Ltd. TheTotal premium under the scheme for 2009- 10 is Rs.988.30/- including Service Tax. The Weaver + State Government’s share is Rs.179.20 per annum by the weavers / State Govt. The Weaver’s share is Rs. 50 per year minimum. The annual limit per family is Rs. 15,000/- out of which OPD cover is Rs. 7,500.
- Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana: The Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana (MGBBY) is being implemented through the Life Insurance Corporation of India.
The annual premium is ` 330/- per member. The GOI funding is ` 150, Weaver’s contribution is ` 80 and LIC’s share is ` 100. The assured sum on Natural Death is ` 60,000 and accidental death / total disability is ` 1, 50,000. In 2008-09, 5.75 lakh weavers were enrolled in this scheme.
Handloom Mark
The Handloom Mark was launched by the Prime Minister of India on 28th June, 2006. The purpose of Handloom Mark is to serve as a guarantee to the buyer that the handloom product being purchased is a genuine hand-woven product and not a power loom or mill made product. Also, in the new Foreign Trade Policy, incentives to handloom products bearing Handloom Mark have been provided. The Textiles Committee is the Implementing Agency for promotion of Handloom Mark.
Handloom Marketing Complex
A world class Handloom Marketing Complex is under construction at Janpath, New Delhi to provide infrastructure support to handloom agencies.
Sant Kabir Award
Sant Kabir Award is been initiated as an award for Handloom weavers since 2009. This award involves a Tamrapatra and a financial assistance of Rs. 6.00 Lakh to a weaver who has created 10 innovative designs.
