The Ministry of Textiles is administering following schemes for the overall development of handloom sector and welfare of handloom workers across the country including Tamil Nadu:

1. National Handloom Development Programme(NHDP);
2. Raw Material Supply Scheme(RMSS);

Under the above schemes, financial assistance is provided to eligible handloom agencies/workers for raw materials, procurement of upgraded looms & accessories, solar lighting units, construction of workshed, skilling, product diversification & design innovation, technical and common infrastructure, publicity and brand development through India Handloom Brand (IHB), Handloom Mark (HLM) and GI tag, e-commerce facilities, marketing of handloom products in domestic/overseas markets, concessional loans under weavers’ MUDRA scheme and social security etc.

Under small cluster development programme, a component under NHDP an amount of Rs.78.31 lakh has been released during 2023-24 and 2024-25 benefitting 343 handloom weavers in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu.

In the schemes implemented by the Ministry of Textiles in handloom sector, budget is not allocated State/UT wise. Funds to eligible handloom agencies are released for various interventions on receipt of viable proposals as per the extant guidelines of the respective schemes. The details of funds allocated and utilised under these schemes during the last three years across the country including Tamil Nadu are as follows:

(Rs. In crore)

Further, the following support has been provided to handloom sector in Tamil Nadu during last three years and current year:

• 20 Small Handloom Clusters have been taken up for financial assistance of Rs. 21.73 crore benefitting to 3,356 handloom weavers.
• 5,466weavers provided improved looms and accessories under Hathkargha Samvardhan Sahayata.
• 1,999 handloom workers imparted Skill up-gradation training.
• 14 marketing events organised to facilitate and promote sales of Handloom Products.
• To enhance productivity, marketing capabilities and facilitate better incomes, 12 Handloom Producer companies have been formed.
• 13,790 beneficiaries provided loans under Weavers’ MUDRA Scheme.
• 1,35,000 beneficiaries enrolled under Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti BimaYojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha BimaYojana.
• Total 334.13 lakh kg of yarn supplied under Transport Subsidy & Price Subsidy.

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

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MAM/VN

(Lok Sabha US Q2660)