A number of steps have been taken by the Government for revival of handloom sector, giving particular stress on increasing the earning of handloom weavers, which would in turn attract the younger generation to this profession. These steps have been taken in light of the new strategy for revival of handlooms; the major pillars of the new strategy are the following:
· Organizing the weavers in clusters and providing basic infrastructure by setting up Common Facility Centres with godown, office with internet facility, rest room, facilities for training and bulk processing in each block having concentration of traditional handloom weavers
· Encouraging handloom weavers to user Information Technology based intervention extensively for direct benefit transfer under Jan Dhan Yojana, getting market information as well as for selling products through e-commerce
· Launching ‘India Handloom’ brand for promoting high value handloom products with new design, zero defect (in fabrics), zero effect (on environment) and assurance to consumer to about genuineness and quality of the product
· Promoting educated youth from weavers’ families as weaver entrepreneurs, who will get market information, produce and market cloth directly; with a view to increasing the earnings from handloom weaving substantially
· Linking handloom with fashion and tourism, with a view to expanding the market and increasing earnings
· Providing assistance to handloom weavers in training, design development, acquisition of looms and accessories online, supply of quality raw material in decentralized manner
· Involving private sector in design development and marketing
Following are the major interventions taken in light of the above.
1. Block-level cluster approach has been adopted for development of handlooms. This provides for integrated and holistic development of cluster by implementing need-based interventions. National Handloom Development Programme has been amended accordingly, to make it more flexible to suit the requirements of the cluster, with higher scale of finding by GoI, discontinuation of the State contribution, direct release of funds to Implementing Agency and direct transfer of funds in the bank account of beneficiary through ECS. A Common Facility Centre too is being set up in each block, having concentration of traditional handloom weavers and other areas where handloom weaving is feasible on a commercial scale.
o Total spending per cluster has been more than tripled from Rs. 60 lacs to Rs. 2 crores (per block cluster). A cluster in the block is eligible to avail the financial assistance upto Rs.2.00 crore for various interventions such as setting up of Common Facility Centre (CFC) (including Common Service Centre (CSC)), engagement of textile designer-cum-marketing executive, construction of workshed, appointment of Cluster Development Executive (CDE), technological up-gradation, skill up-gradation etc.
o The scheme permits setting up of Dye House with an Effluent Treatment Plant in the district, with an additional funding of Rs. 50 lakh.
o The Weavers’ Service Centre will develop designs for the cluster with the support of National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) and private designers and evaluate the success of designs given by private designers. Computer Aided Textile Design (CATD) centre will be provided for a group of clusters instead of each cluster.
o Financial assistance for work-shed for individual weavers has been increased to from Rs. 35000 to Rs. 70000. Weavers belonging to Above Poverty Line (APL) category can also avail of the assistance provided they contribute 25% of the funding requirement. Such assistance can be credited directly to the bank account of the weaver, who may procure required material as per his own choice.
o Category of Implementing Agencies has been widened to include Primary Weavers’ Cooperative Societies and Self Help Groups (SHGs) registered as legal entity and other appropriate legal entities working for handlooms.
2. The Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) is under implementation during the 12th Plan for development of Mega Handloom Clusters. As per the scheme, mega handloom cluster should have atleast 15,000 handlooms and funding upto Rs. 40 crore as GoI share is eligible per cluster. The following major revisions have been made to the scheme in August 2015:
o Adoption of the Block level cluster approach on the lines of NHDP
o In direct benefit interventions, 90% funding will be by GoI and 10% by beneficiary. Financial assistance will be released directly to the bank account of the beneficiaries.
o Expansion of the list of Implementing Agencies
o Change in pattern of funding and release of funds.
§ Block level CFC and related interventions including infrastructure (except land) will be fully funded by GoI.
§ For block level CFC, funds will be released in two equal instalments; for other components, funds will be released in three instalments of 40%, 50% and 10%.
3. Various steps have been taken in order to strengthen handloom institutions, in order to produce graduates with better employment opportunities and skills to serve the handloom sector.
o Setting up of new IIHT in Central Sector – A new Indian Institute of Handloom Technology (IIHT) for West Bengal for conducting diploma course in handloom and textile technology with initial intake of 30 students started functioning since 04/08/2014 and first year DHTT course has commenced from the current academic year 2015-16.
o Setting up of new WSCs in Central Sector – Three new WSCs at Aizwal, Dimapur and Ranchi have started functioning.
o Introduction of degree course in IIHT – Degree course ‘B.Tech. in Handloom & Textile technology’ has been introduced at IIHT, Salem from academic year 2015-16.
o Continuation of IIHT, Bargarh – An IIHT has been set up at Bargarh (Orissa) in 11th Plan, to cater the need of handloom industry of Orissa and adjoining States. Requisite budget provision to meet functional and operational requirement of IIHT, Bargarh has been kept during 12th Plan.
The Union Textiles Minister has laid the foundation stone of an Integrated Textile Office Complex at IIHT, Varanasi. The proposed office complex will house all offices in Varanasi under the Ministry of Textiles, which work for the welfare of weavers.
Co-location of offices of various allied agencies under Ministry of Textiles in the proposed building will provide a common platform to all stakeholders, including weavers, exporters and marketing agencies. This will enable them to better reap the benefits of Government schemes and with less effort, resulting in saving of time and money.
This will thereby contribute to higher productivity, income and better livelihoods for weavers. In addition, situating ITOC in the IIHT campus will facilitate obtaining of necessary approval for starting the Degree course “B. Tech in Handloom & Textile Technology” at IIHT Varanasi campus on the lines of the course in IIHT Salem.
This in itself will fulfill the long-felt need for such a course in this part of the country. Furthermore, bringing a NIFT extension counter in the IIHT campus will not only catalyze the students’ learning process, but will also bring in better synergy between their academic projects and the design related activities of Weavers Service Centre, resulting in value-addition to the weavers’ products.
4. To streamline the credit flow to handloom sector, it has been decided to take up special campaign on fast track for completing the reconciliation of accounts of Handloom Cooperatives and individual weavers to issue NoC to the concerned for availing fresh loan. A pilot project has been launched in partnership with Punjab National Bank in Varanasi and Bhubanewar to provide Rupay card to weavers for loans under the PM Mudra Yojana and benefits of Concessional Credit Component are being provided through this PNB Weaver Mudra Scheme.
5. National Handloom Development Corporation has opened 10 yarn depots-cum-warehouses in 12th plan so as to ensure timely supplies to the users on cash basis, besides taking care of individual weavers who need yarn in small quantity. Location of these warehouses are Sitapur & Moradabad (UP), Guwahati (Assam), Samudragarh (West Bengal), Kannur (kerala), Chirala & Karimnagar (Andhra Pradesh), Agartala (Tripura), Bhubneshwara (Odisha) and Ranchi/Godda (Jharkhand).
Further, to ensure availability of yarn in time as per requirement, state governments have been requested to prepare quarterly production plan of each cluster, with a focus on production of high value-added items and to indicate requirement of yarn and dyes/chemicals to NHDC.
6. A policy framework to promote e-marketing of handloom products has been launched, in order to promote marketing of handlooms in general and to reach the younger customers in particular. The policy framework has been developed with the key objectives of promoting the interests of both producers and consumers of handloom products.
Under the policy framework, the Office of DC (Handlooms) would collaborate with approved e-commerce entities in promoting e-marketing of handloom products, in a transparent, competitive and effective manner. The policy thus widens the existing ambit of institutional collaboration between Office of DC (Handlooms) and e-commerce players.
7. The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched the first National Handloom Day on 7th August, 2015, at a national level function in Chennai. August 7 will henceforth be celebrated as National Handloom Day. The date August 7 has been chosen due to its special significance in India`s history; it was on this day that the Swadeshi Movement was launched in 1905.
The formal proclamation of Swadeshi Movement was made on August 7, 1905 in a massive meeting in the Calcutta Town hall. The movement involved revival of domestic products and production processes. The Government of India has declared August 7 as National Handloom Day every year, in memory of this.
8. The ‘India Handloom’ brand has been launched by the Prime Minister on the first National Handloom Day (on August 7, 2015), for better market positioning of quality handloom products. The brand signifies high quality defect free, socially and environmentally compliant products for catering to the needs of high-end consumers.
All products under the brand would have benchmarked quality parameters for raw material quality, processing as well as for proving the origin (Geographical Indication) from the hand-woven sector.
A promotional campaign for the 'India Handloom' Brand' has been started by the Government. The campaign seeks to make handloom products aspirational, especially among the younger generation, by instilling in them a sense of pride in wearing handloom products. As a part of this, the brand ‘India Handloom’ has entered social media.
9. It has been decided to organize regular exhibitions/sale festivals in large cities in different parts of the country, in order to provide regular marketing facilities for promotion of handlooms and handicrafts. To begin with, three venues have been identified in the national capital, where exhibitions/sale festivals shall be organized round the year, on the pattern of those in Dilli Haat.
Similar initiatives as in Delhi would be taken up in other cities of the country. Cities shall be identified by matching locations where tourism projects have been sanctioned by the states, with identified handicraft/handloom clusters.
10. To promote handlooms with fashion, a National Workshop on Handlooms and Fashion, Exhibition and Fashion Show was organized at NIFT, Bhubaneswar in January 2015. The workshop witnessed participation of students from all 15 NIFTs, officials and designers from 25 Weavers’ Service Centres, handloom weavers and some private institutions.
Further, the course work in NIFTs is being integrated with handloom and handicrafts clusters to achieve twin objectives of giving field exposure to students for skill enhancement, and product development / design for better marketability.
(source: PIB Release)