(a) the steps taken by the Government to ease the financial stress and the declining profits of Balaramapuram handloom weavers and spinners who are burdened by the competition from powerloom products and imports;
(b) whether handloom camps, specialised credit facilities and similar schemes have been put in place in Balaramapuram to support the struggling weavers and attract younger generations into the profession;
(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(d) the efforts made by the Government for the welfare of Balaramapuram weavers who are suffering from health-issues due to strenuous manual labour, including the efforts to ensure that they are made aware of enhanced health insurance schemes;
(e) whether special resources have been allocated to assist vulnerable groups such as widowed weavers, traditional spinners, and/or those forced to supplement their income; and
(f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
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| ANSWER |
MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES
(SHRI AJAY TAMTA)
(a): The Government of India, Ministry of Textiles is implementing following schemes for development of handlooms and welfare of weavers across the country, including Balaramapuram in Kerala:
1. National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP)
2. Handloom Weavers’ Comprehensive Welfare Scheme (HWCWS)
3. Yarn Supply Scheme (YSS)
4. Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) - for eight mega handloom clusters
Under the above schemes, financial assistance is provided for raw materials, purchase of looms and accessories, design innovation, product diversification, infrastructure development, skill upgradation, marketing of handloom products, loan at concessional rates etc. Besides, the Government of India has reserved 11 textiles articles, including Sarees with technical specifications for exclusive production by handlooms under The Handlooms (Reservation of Articles for production) Act, 1985. Balaramapuram sareehas also been registered under Geographical Indications Act. 05 Block Level Clusters, including Kollayil Cluster, Thiruvananthapuram district have been sanctioned with a total project cost of Rs. 8.86 crore with GoI share of Rs. 8.63 crore and released Rs. 2.77 crore as first instalment.
(b) & (c): Credit requirements of handloom weavers are met under Weavers’ MUDRA scheme, a component of NHDP. Under the scheme, credit is provided at concessional interest rate of 6% to the handloom weavers with margin money assistance upto Rs. 10,000 per weaver and credit guarantee for a period of 3 years.In Kerela, 324 weavers have been sanctioned Mudra loan worth Rs. 1.61 crorein last three years.
In order to attract younger generation into the handloom profession, provision has been made under NHDP for skill upgradation. MoU has been signed with NIFT, New Delhi to promote handlooms through fashion by introducing Handlooms in the course curriculum of Under-Graduate and Post-Graduate courses from academic session 2016-17.
During 7-17th October 2017 and 19-24th February 2018, total 305Hastkala Sahyog Shivirs, including 09 Shivirs in Kerala were organised in various handloom clusters to facilitate the handloom weavers for obtaining MUDRA loan, Yarn Passbooks, looms & accessories, enrol for NIOS and IGNOU courses etc.
(d) to (f): In order to address the health related issues of handloom weavers of the country, including weavers of Balaramapuram, the Government of India, Ministry of Textiles has been implementing Handloom Weavers’ Comprehensive Welfare Scheme. Life insurance cover to handloom weavers/workers in the age group of 18-50 year is provided under Pradhan Mantri Jivan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and accidental insurance cover to handloom weavers/workers in the age group of 18-50 years is provided under Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana. Closed group of handloom weavers/workers in the age group of 51-59 years, which are already enrolled as on 31.05.2017 under the Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana (MGBBY) would continue to get cover under the converged MGBBY. The benefits of schemes are available to all the handloom weavers, including widowed weavers etc. Also, scholarship of Rs. 1200/- per year per child upto 2 children is also provided to the handloom weavers.
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