Parliament Question: Financial Assistance to Handloom Weavers

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2660 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2026 FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO HANDLOOM WEAVERS 2660# SHRI ROBERT BRUCE C:

Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंत्री

be pleased to state :

(a) whether the Ministry has released Central financial assistance to handloom weavers of Tirunelveli district under any handloom development scheme;

(b) if so, the details thereof including the funds sanctioned or released, and the physical progress achieved, during each of the last three years;

(c) if not, the reasons thereof; and

(d) the details of further steps proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard for Tirunelveli district and the time-frame fixed therefor? उत्तर ANSWER वस्त्र राज् य मंत्री (श्री पबित्र मार्घरे रटा) THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES (SHRI PABITRA MARGHERITA)

(a) to (d): 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) Name of the Scheme 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 2026-27 (as on

30.06.2026) BE Exp. BE Exp. BE Exp. BE Exp.

National Handloom Development Programme

190.00 186.36 195.84 195.51 234.84 234.32 205.00 88.62 Raw Material Supply Scheme

160.00 159.72 172.17 172.16 219.00 218.96 200.00 63.20 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.  5,466 weavers 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 Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana.  Total 334.13 lakh kg of yarn supplied under Transport Subsidy & Price Subsidy.

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