India’s Ministry of Textiles Supports Handloom Weavers with New Schemes
The Ministry of Textiles in India is launching various schemes to support handloom weavers and promote Indian handloom products globally. These initiatives are part of a broader strategy to enhance the welfare of handloom workers and increase the global reach of India’s rich handloom heritage.
Key Initiatives
National Handloom Development Programme
This program offers financial aid to eligible handloom organizations and workers. It covers costs for upgraded looms, solar lighting units, workshed construction, product and design development, technical infrastructure, and marketing of handloom products both domestically and internationally.
Weavers’ MUDRA Loan/Concessional Credit Scheme
This scheme provides margin money assistance, interest subvention, and credit guarantee fees on loans for three years to individual weavers and handloom organizations.
Welfare Provisions
Handloom workers receive life and accidental insurance, scholarships for their children’s higher education, and financial support for award-winning weavers above 60 years of age.
Raw Material Supply Scheme
This scheme offers a transport subsidy for delivering yarn to beneficiaries’ doorsteps and a 15% price subsidy on various types of yarn.
Promoting Exports
The Handloom Export Promotion Council participates in international marketing fairs to raise the global profile of Indian handloom products. The ‘India Handloom’ Brand, launched on National Handloom Day in 2015, promotes high-quality handloom products with zero defects and zero environmental impact.
COVID-19 Measures
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the government extended relief and credit support to eligible weavers. State Handloom Corporations were encouraged to purchase finished inventory from weavers. Additionally, 151 Handloom Producer Companies were established, and weavers were integrated into the Government e-Marketplace.
Marketing Support
Virtual fairs and domestic marketing events were organized to help weavers sell their products. In 2020-21 and 2021-22, a total of 20 virtual fairs and 211 domestic marketing events were held.
Doubts Revealed
Ministry of Textiles -: The Ministry of Textiles is a part of the Indian government that looks after the production and development of textiles, which are materials like cloth and fabric.
handloom weavers -: Handloom weavers are people who make cloth by hand using a loom, which is a special machine for weaving threads together.
schemes -: Schemes are plans or programs created by the government to help people or improve certain areas, like helping handloom weavers in this case.
National Handloom Development Programme -: This is a special plan by the government to help handloom weavers by giving them training, better tools, and ways to sell their products.
Raw Material Supply Scheme -: This scheme helps weavers get the materials they need, like threads and dyes, at a lower cost so they can make their cloth.
Weavers’ MUDRA Loan/Concessional Credit Scheme -: This is a program that gives weavers loans or money at a lower interest rate to help them start or grow their weaving business.
financial aid -: Financial aid means giving money to help someone, like the weavers, so they can buy materials or improve their work.
insurance -: Insurance is a way to protect people by giving them money if something bad happens, like if they get sick or their tools break.
scholarships -: Scholarships are money given to students to help them pay for their education, so they can learn more and do better in their work.
marketing support -: Marketing support means helping weavers sell their products by promoting them and finding buyers.
India Handloom Brand -: The ‘India Handloom’ Brand is a special label that shows a product is high-quality and made by handloom weavers in India.
COVID-19 pandemic -: The COVID-19 pandemic is a time when a new virus spread around the world, making many people sick and causing problems for businesses and workers.
