As per 4^th All India Handloom Census 2019-20, there are 35,22,512 number of handloom weavers/workers across the country, of which 1,690 handloom weavers/workers are in Puducherry.

Ministry of Textiles, Government of India is implementing following schemes under National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP) for the welfare of handloom weavers/workers across the country:

• Financial support of Rs.8,000/- per month to Awardee handloom weavers/workers above 60 years of age, in indigent circumstances having annual income below Rs.1.00 lakh and Scholarship upto  Rs.2.00 lakh per annum to handloom weavers/workers’ child (upto 2 children) for study in Diploma/Under Graduate/Post Graduate courses of Central/State Govt. recognized/funded Textiles Institutions.

• Universal and affordable social security in case of natural/accidental death and total/partial disability through insurance schemes i.e. Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY).

The details of amount released by Ministry of Textiles, Government of India during each of the last three financial years and the current financial year for implementation of following two schemes for handloom weavers/workers are as under:-

This information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES SHRI PABITRA MARGHERITA in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

DHANYA SANAL K

(Rajya Sabha US Q2558)