World Agroforestry Congress Inaugurated 
New Delhi February 11, 2014: –Handloom weavers face hardships/constraints primarily due to stiff competition from powerloom& mill sector, low productivity, limited scope for technological up gradation, inadequate credit availability at reasonable rate of interest and marketing facilities. However, various schemes viz. Integrated Handloom Development Scheme (IHDS), Marketing and Export Promotion Scheme (MEPS), Handloom Weavers Comprehensive Welfare Scheme, Mill Gate Price Scheme (MGPS), Diversified Handloom Development Scheme (DHDS) and Revival Reform and Restructuring Package (RRR) are being implemented for the welfare of handloom weaves and their condition is improving.
Powerloom weavers also face hardships due to technological obsolescence, lack of continuous power supply, inadequate credit flow at reasonable rate of interest, shortage of skilled manpower etc. Out of 23 lakh powerlooms in the country, only 1.15 lakh looms are shuttleless looms. In order to improve the technology level of the powerloom sector, Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme is implemented with more focus on powerloom sector. Besides, various other schemes, such as, Group Insurance Scheme (GIS), Group Workshed Scheme (GWS) etc., are being implemented for the welfare of the powerloom weavers/ entrepreneurs in the entire country and their condition is improving.
The Government is providing financial assistance to powerloom weavers including minority community engaged in Textile Industry including backward regions of various parts of the country including Uttar Pradesh in the following forms:
Of the total premium of Rs. 470/- per weaver for Group Insurance Scheme, Rs. 290 are borne by Government of India and Rs. 100/- paid from the Social Welfare Fund. The contribution of powerloomwaever/worker is Rs. 80/- only for one year. Subsidy is provided to powerloom weavers for construction of loom-shed under the Group Workshed Scheme. Rate of subsidy has now been increased to Rs. 300/- per sq. feet as against Rs. 160/- per sq. ft.
Re-imbursement of actual to & fro train fare in sleeper class plus incidental expenses of Rs. 2000 per weaver is provided by the Government for exposure visit of powerloom weaver from his cluster to the place of developed powerloom cluster. During the past 6 years, 29977 powerloom weavers were taken to developed powerloom clusters and Rs. 74 lakh was paid towards incidental expenses.
Financial assistance is provided by the Government for conducting Buyer-Seller Meets (BSM) for marketing their products under a common platform thereby eliminating middlemen and establishing direct business network with the buyers. Scale of assistance ranges from Rs.5 lakh to Rs.15 lakh for 5 days per event depending upon the class of cities. During the past 7 years, 69 Buyer Selleer Meets were conducted for which GOI released Rs. 4.88 crore.
Powerloom weavers/entrepreneurs are given increased benefits Under Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme. The interest subsidy has been raised from 5% to 6 % and Capital subsidy has been increased from 10% to 15% in the 12th Plan. Margin Money Scheme for powerlooms under MSME sector has also been increased from 20% to 30%. More than Rs. 409 crore has been released as subsidy to small pwerloom weavers/entrepreneurs under Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme.
New Schemes are also launched from this year for welfare of the powerloom weavers/entrepreneurs for implementation during the 12th Plan period. This includeHelath Insurance Scheme for powerloom weavers, Insitu-Upgradation of plain powerlooms, Hire-purchase for powerlooms weavers/entrepreneurs, Yarn Bank Shceme, Common Facility Centre and Tex-Venture Capital Fund.
Budget provision for all ongoing powerloom sector schemes has been increased substantially for the 12th plan period. As against Rs. 66.51 crore for allocated for the 11th plan period, the plan outlay for the 12th Plan period is Rs. 335 crore for the powerloom sector Schemes.
In so far as handloom sector is concerned, various schemes viz. Integrated Handloom Development Scheme (IHDS), Marketing and Export Promotion Scheme (MEPS), Handloom Weavers Comprehensive Welfare Scheme, Mill Gate Price Scheme (MGPS), Diversified Handloom Development Scheme (DHDS) and Revival Reform and Restructuring Package (RRR) are being implemented for the welfare of handloom weaves including minority community. Financial assistance under Integrated Handlooms Development Scheme (IHDS) and Marketing and Export Promotion Scheme (MEPS) is released to the States Governments including Uttar Pradesh, while funds under other schemes are released to the identified implementing agencies to pass on the benefits to the handloom weavers.
At present there is no proposal to control the yarn prices and to mark the exact price on the packets of cotton yarn. The prices of yarn are determined by the market forces
The information was given by the Minister of Textiles Dr. Kavaru Sambasiva Rao in the Lok Sabha today.
