Empowering Weavers: Government Schemes on Handloom Day
Celebrating National Handloom Day: Government Schemes & Initiatives
National Handloom Day 2023: Introduction
The handloom industry represents our nation's vibrant and diverse heritage of cultures, and it finds an important place in the hearts of people who live in rural and semi-rural areas. Not only is it a source of livelihood for many, but it also plays a crucial role in empowering women, with more than 70% of all weavers and allied workers being female. What is even more admirable is its commitment to nature, with eco-friendly production processes that require minimal capital and power. This allows the sector to embrace innovation and stay in tune with the ever-changing fashion trends and customer preferences.
When is National Handloom Day?
The Swadeshi Movement, which began on August 7, 1905, significantly supported regional manufacturing, in particular handloom weavers. Recognizing its significance, the Government of India designated August 7th as National Handloom Day in 2015. The inaugural celebration of National Handloom Day took place on August 7th, 2015, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the event in Chennai.
Significance of National Handloom Day:
This special day serves as a heartfelt tribute to our incredible handloom-weaving community, acknowledging their invaluable contribution to our country's socio-economic development. It also reaffirms our commitment to preserve and cherish our handloom heritage while ensuring that the talented weavers and workers find financial security and take immense pride in their exquisite craftsmanship. Let us celebrate the artistry and tradition of handloom weaving on this National Handloom Day!
Steps and Schemes Launched by Government of India to Promote Handloom Industry:
1. Block Level Clusters: The block level cluster scheme has a big goal – to make handloom areas better in every way! The government will achieve this aim by teaching new skills, giving special support such as Hathkharga Samvardhan Sahayata (HSS), making individual work spaces, creating new designs and products, and setting up Common Facility Centres. The Government of India will help each cluster with an amount of Rs. 2 crores.
2. MUDRA Loan: In this scheme, the government is offering loans to people at a lower interest rate of 6% through banks. To make these loans even better, they also give extra money to individuals (up to Rs. 25,000) and organizations (up to Rs. 20.00 lakh). The Ministry also pays the credit guarantee fee to the banks to encourage them to lend money. They have a special website called the Online Handloom Weavers MUDRA portal to directly transfer the extra money and interest benefits to the weavers' bank accounts. This helps the weavers a lot in getting the financial support they need.
3. Hatkharga Samvardhan Sahayata: The HSS (Handloom Sector Scheme) has a simple goal – to make better-quality fabrics and increase productivity by using better looms like jacquard and dobby. In this scheme, the Indian government pays for 90% of the cost of these looms and accessories. But the best part is that the state governments are fully involved in making it happen. So, everyone works together to make handloom weaving even better!
4. Yarn Subsidy: In this scheme, the government helps handloom weavers by paying for the transportation of different types of yarns they need. They also provide a 15% subsidy on certain yarns like cotton, silk, wool, linen, and blends of natural fibres. However, there is a limit on the quantity of yarn they can get with the subsidy. The aim is to make sure handloom weavers can offer competitive prices like power-looms do.
5. Work Shed: Government is building special work sheds for each weaver family near their homes. These sheds will give them a place to work comfortably. The cost for each shed is Rs. 1.2 lakhs, but do not worry if you are a marginalized household or a female weaver because you can get 100% financial assistance for it.
6. Bunkar Mitra Helpline: A special helpline called "Bunkar Mitra" has been created to help handloom weavers. You can reach this helpline for free by calling 1800 208 9988. It is like a one-stop shop for all handloom weavers across the country to get help with any questions they have about their work.
7. Certification: In 2015, the India Handloom Brand (IHB) was introduced to give a special identity to top-notch handloom products. The main goal of IHB is to create a strong connection between the weaver and the consumer. By doing so, it helps weavers earn more money, and at the same time, assures the buyers about the product's excellent quality. All the products that carry the IHB tag undergo strict quality checks for the raw materials used and the way they are made. This ensures that you get the best handwoven items from the IHB!
8. Marketing Assistance: To help handloom weavers reach more customers, special events like Expos and District level gatherings are organized regularly. These events act as a platform for marketing their beautiful creations. Weavers also get the chance to take part in craft fairs held all over the country, where they can showcase their skills and products.
To embrace the digital age, 23 e-commerce companies are now working together to promote the online selling of handloom products. This means that people from different parts of the country can easily discover and purchase these wonderful handloom items with just a few clicks on their computers or smartphones.
9. GeM: The government is helping Weavers, Co-operative Societies, and Handloom agencies to sell their products directly to Government Departments. They are doing this by providing marketing facilities through the Department of Commerce for Handlooms and Government e-Marketplace (GeM) authorities. This opportunity is available in all states, and it allows them to register on GeM.
10. Design Resource Centres (DRCs): To make the Handloom Sector even better and more creative, Government have set up 8 Design Resource Centres (DRCs). Each of these DRCs is in 8 Weavers Service Centres (WSCs) in different cities like Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, Delhi, Guwahati, Jaipur, Kancheepuram, Mumbai, and Varanasi.
11. Engagement of Designers: In this program, there is a way to involve expert designers at the local block level and beyond. These designers help create exciting new designs and products. The good news is that the program covers their fees, and there is even more money available to give them extra payment for connecting their creations to the market.
12. Skill Up-Gradation: Weavers and allied workers are provided with training and exposure to learn exciting new weaving techniques. They also get to adapt to modern technology, create fresh designs and use beautiful color. Moreover, they discover eco-friendly dyes and learn about dyeing practices that are kind to nature. In addition, they get a glimpse of basic accounting and management practices, and even get familiar with e-commerce. It is a wonderful opportunity for them to grow and expand their skills!
13. Learning Opportunities: The government is helping weavers and young people from weaver families with their careers. They signed agreements between the Ministry of Textiles and two universities - the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) and the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). This means that weavers and their families can get more opportunities to learn and grow in their jobs.
14. Producers Companies: The Government of India is helping set up Production Centres (PCs) all over the country in the handloom sector. This is an important focus area, with the aim of bringing the advantages of different handloom schemes to the weavers and workers. Especially those who work independently or are part of Self-Help Groups or Producer Groups will benefit from these efforts.
15. Craft Handloom Village: The Ministry of Textiles has taken up a wonderful initiative to develop Craft Villages in certain areas where handloom and handicraft traditions are rich. These villages will be located along important tourist routes, and the aim is to create a sustainable and integrated development of handlooms, crafts, and tourism. Both the State and Central Governments are working together to make this project successful. The main goal is to promote traditional handloom textiles and offer more opportunities for local weavers to sell their products.
Craft Handloom Villages have recently been established in Chanderi (Madhya Pradesh), Kanihama (Jammu & Kashmir), Kovalam (Kerala), Mohpara (Assam), Moirang (Manipur), Rampur (Bihar), Pranpur and Sharan (Himachal Pradesh). These villages will not only preserve the beautiful art of handloom weaving but also attract tourists who are interested in experiencing our rich cultural heritage. It is a great step towards supporting our skilled weavers and celebrating the beauty of handloom textiles.
16. Handloom Awards: Every year, the Ministry of Textiles gives out special awards like the Sant Kabir Handloom Award and the National Handloom Award. These awards are given to recognize and celebrate excellence in weaving, design development, and marketing efforts in the textile industry. It is a way to honour the hard work and creativity of people who are doing exceptional work in these areas. So, it is like a big appreciation for those who make amazing textiles and designs!
17. Welfare Measures: For the benefit of handloom weavers, there are some welfare measures in place. Handloom Weavers can opt for three schemes – Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), and Mahatma Gandhi Bunker Bima Yojana (MGBBY) for protection.
Empowering Weavers Government Schemes for Handloom Industry National Handloom Day Handloom Industry Government Initiatives for Handloom Industry MUDRA loan Block Level Clusters Hatkharga Samvardhan Sahayata
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