The total number of Handicrafts units/establishment in different states and UTs including Assam is 18.7 lakhs. These establishments provided employment to 42 lakh persons. The Government of India implements various schemes for upliftment and development of handicrafts artisans through National Handicraft Development Programme(NHDP) and Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) to emphasize integrated approach for development of handicraft cluster in a holistic manner. Following are the components of NHDP and CHCDS:

National Handicraft Development Programme:

1. Base Line Survey & Mobilization of Artisans under Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojana,
2. Design & Technology Upgradation
3. Human Resource Development
4. Direct Benefit to Artisans
5. Infrastructure and Technology Support
6. Marketing Support & Services
7. Research & Development

Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme:

1. Mega Cluster
2. Integrated Development and Promotion of Handicrafts Projects( Special Projects)

Government of India had introduced a Scheme Viz. Textile Workers Rehabilitation Fund Scheme (TWRFS) with effect from 15.09.1986 to provide relief to the workers, who are rendered jobless due to permanent closure of Non-SSI Textile Mills in private sector, which are eligible as per the guidelines under the Scheme. The said scheme is not applicable to the Handicraft and Handloom artisans & weavers and therefore, no payment is released to Handicraft and Handloom artisans & weavers under the said scheme.

Moreover, TWRFS has been merged with the Rajiv Gandhi Shramik Kalyan Yojana (RGSKY) of Ministry of Labour and Employment and discontinued TWRFS w.e.f 01.04.2017. Workers rendered jobless can avail benefits under the above scheme, subject to eligibility. 

The Government of India is implementing the various schemes for development of handlooms and welfare of handloom weavers across the country including North Eastern States.  Details of schemes being implemented for handloom weavers of North Eastern Region are:

1. Cluster Development Project of Handloom under North East Textiles Promotion Scheme (NERTPs) aims to develop handloom sector in NER by providing the required government support to achieve increase in employment and value of handloom products by means of improvement in design capability, diversification of product lines and value addition, cluster development and improvement in labour productivity  through various interventions such as baseline survey, diagnostic study, formation of self-help groups/joint liability groups, formation of consortium, awareness programmes, engagement of designer, computer aided textile design etc.

2. Under Block Level Cluster component of National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP), financial assistance upto Rs.2.00 crore per BLC for various interventions such as skill upgradation, Hathkargha Samvardhan Sahayata, product development, construction of workshed, project management cost, design development, setting up of common facility centre (CFC) etc. is provided. Besides, financial assistance upto Rs.50.00 lakh is also available for setting up of one dye house at district level.

3. Under Marketing Promotion of NER Handloom Products marketing platform is provided to handloom producers/weavers through organising expos to sell the handloom products directly to the consumers. Weavers are able to get continuous employment and improve their livelihood. 38 Urban Haats have been sanctioned across the country for promoting sales of handloom products. Of which, 3 Urban Haats have been sanctioned, one each in Manipur, Nagaland and Tripura. The achievement of market promotion under NERTPS for the last 3 years and current years are as under:

iv) Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme:

The Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) is implemented for development of Mega Handloom Clusters covering atleast 15000 to 25,000 handlooms and financial assistance as GoI share from Rs. 40.00 to Rs.70.00 crore is in a period of 5 years.  8 mega handloom clusters taken up as announced in the Budgets i.e. Varanasi, Sivasagar (Assam) (2008-09), Virudhunagar, Murshidabad (2009-10), Prakasam & Guntur districts and Godda& neighbouring districts (2012-13), Bhagalpur &Trichy (2014-15).

(e): The following NGOs have been provided financial assistance under Block Level Cluster component of National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP) during the last three years and current year:

This information was given by the Union Minister of Textiles, Smriti Zubin Irani, in written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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MM/ SB