In addition, 20 clusters each having about 5000 handlooms in different States, including 3 Clusters in Tamil Nadu, 4 clusters in Uttar Pradesh and 1 Cluster in Bihar have been sanctioned. Further, 4 mega handloom clusters have been sanctioned for Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), Sivasagar (Assam), Virudhunagar (Tamil Nadu) and Murshidabad (West Bengal). Approximately 5.50 lakh weavers are dependent on these clusters.
Ministry of Textiles is providing need based inputs to weavers in these Clusters for making them self sustainable by providing them financial assistance for margin money, new looms and accessories, skill up-gradation, design development, Corpus Fund for Yarn supply, Setting up of Common Facility Centre/Dye House, construction of Worksheds.
Ministry of Textiles