Maharashtra handloom weavers are not debt ridden: Minister

The State Government of Maharashtra has informed that handloom weavers in Maharashtra are not debt ridden and poverty stricken.

The Government of India is implementing following schemesfor the overall development of handloom sector and welfare of handloom weavers all over the country including the state of Maharashtra:-

• Integrated Handlooms Development Scheme (IHDS) provides need based inputs to a “Cluster” of 300-500 Handloom or a “Group” of 10-100  weavers for making them self-sustainable by providing them financial assistance for margin money, working capital, new looms and accessories, skill upgradation, marketing opportunities and for construction of worksheds.  So far, 07 cluster project and 54 Group Approach Projects have been sanctioned to the State of Maharashtra.
• Handloom Weavers’ Comprehensive Welfare Scheme comprises of two separate schemes viz. the Health Insurance Scheme (HIS) for providing Health Insurance to the Handloom weavers and Mahatma Gandhi BunkarBimaYojana (MGBBY) for providing Life Insurance Cover in case of natural/accidental death, total/partial disability due to accident.  Under Health Insurance Scheme 1527 weavers have been enrolled for the policy period December to November 2010-11.  Under MGBBY, 1086 weavers were enrolled during 2011-12 in the State of Maharashtra.
• Marketing & Export Promotion Scheme (MEPS) provides marketing opportunities and infrastructure support through design development and marketing linkages to assist in the sale of the Handloom products both in domestic and international market.  During 2011-12, 23 Marketing events were sanctioned in the State of Maharashtra.
• Mill Gate Price Scheme makes available all types of yarn at Mill Gate Price to the eligible handloom agencies to facilitate regular supply of basic raw material to the handloom weavers and to optimize their employment potential. During 2011-12, 1.12 lakh kg yarn valuing Rs.1.39 crore was supplied in the State of Maharashtra.
• Diversified Handloom Development Scheme provides assistance for technological and skill up gradation of weavers for design and product development through 25 Weavers’ Service Centres and 05 Indian Institutes of Handloom Technology all over the country to improve the productivity and earnings of the handloom weavers.2 Weavers’ Service Centres viz. at Mumbai and Nagpur are functioning and providing technical support to handloom weavers in the State of Maharashtra.

In addition to above, the Government of India has announced in December 2011, the Schemes for Revival, Reforms & RestructuringPackage for Handloom Weavers for loan waiver of Handloom Apex & Cooperative Societies in which overdue loan as on 31.03.2010 (entire principal amount and 25% of interest); Comprehensive Package to provide fresh loan upto Rs.2.00 lakh per beneficiary, credit guarantee cover and margin money of Rs.4200, 10% price subsidy on hank yarn on cotton and silk.

Further, the State Government of Maharashtra has introduced 50% loan waiver scheme for primary handloom weaver’s society.  Under the scheme, Rs, 622.45 lakh has been sanctioned and disbursed to 457 Primary handloom Weavers’ Societies during 2010-11 in the State.

Ministry of Textiles