The Ministry of Textiles has formulated various schemes which empower women engaged in handloom and handicrafts sector.
HANDLOOM SECTOR:
As per the 3rd Handloom Census (2009-10), there are about 43.31 lakh handloom weavers and allied workers, of which 77% are women weavers & allied workers, who are involved in weaving and allied activities and earning income for their families. The benefits of following four schemes is reaching to women weavers and workers:
There is 100% subsidy to SC/ST/BPL and women weavers for construction of worksheds under National Handloom Development Programme. Under Block Level Cluster component of National Handloom Development Programme, 412 Block Level Clusters have been sanctioned in last three years and the current year (2015-16 to 2018-19), under which coverage of women beneficiaries is 1,71,822.
Seven National Awards (Kamladevi Chattopadhyay Awards) and National Merit Certificate (Kamladevi Chattopadhyay Awards)were conferredon women weavers during National Handloom Day celebrated at Jaipur on 7th August 2018.
There is 75% subsidy to SC/ST, BPL and women weavers for enrolment under NIOS and IGNOU courses.
HANDICRAFTS SECTOR:
In the handicrafts sector, there are about 7 million artisans in the country. Under Pehchan Initiative, approximately 25 lakh artisans have been identified for the issuance of I.D. Card and till date 19.97 lakh ID cards have already been issued. The percentage of female artisans is 56.07%.
ACHIEVEMENTS & INITIATIVES TAKEN FOR WOMEN EMPOWERMENT
APRIL 2014 to FEBRUARY 2019
Name of the Scheme |
No. of programmes/ Projects |
Fund sanctioned (Rs. In lakhs) |
Artisans benefitted/ covered |
Women artisans Benefitted |
Remarks |
Base Line Survey & Mobilization of Artisans (AHVY) |
520 |
5912.62 |
311983 |
109180 |
Out of 520 Running Clusters 160 clusters (5459 Self Help Groups are exclusively run by women artisans. |
Design & Technology Upgradation |
890 |
6182.3 |
34810 |
13924 |
4190 tool kits distributed to women artisans during last 5 years. |
Human Resource Development |
2218 |
9896.33 |
48281 |
14484 |
Under Guru Shishya Parampara component, out of 505 programmes, 152 programmes sanctioned to Women Master trainers during last 5 years. |
Marketing Support & Services |
1186 |
17937.44 |
67216 |
13440 |
|
Research & Development |
726 |
2413.62 |
18200 |
7280 |
|
Mega cluster/IDPH |
14 |
22665.02 |
252695 |
90770 |
|
Direct Benefit to Artisans/Welfare Scheme |
48 |
3195.05 |
478252 |
267821 |
|
TOTAL |
5602 |
68202.38 |
1211437 |
516899 |
|
OTHER MAJOR INITIATIVES:
Year |
Name of the Event |
No. of Event |
Amount Sanctioned (Rs. In Lakhs) |
Women Artisans Benefited |
2017-18 |
Special Marketing Events for Women Artisans |
10 |
14 |
400 |
2018-19 |
Special Marketing Events for Women Artisans (TO BE ORGANISED) (7-13 March 2019) |
11 |
14 |
550 |
SILK SECTOR:
In India, sericulture development is inextricably woven with participation of women and the production of silk has been recognized as an occupation of the women, for the women and by the women. Ministry of Textileshas taken measures for empowering women through sericulture through various activities.
POWERLOOM SECTOR:
Stand-up India Scheme is available for new Powerloom units established by a person who belongs to SC/ST/woman entrepreneur category and financial assistance to the tune of 25% margin money (Max. Rs.25 lakh) on the machinery cost is admissible subject to the borrower bringing upin 10% of the project cost as his/her own contribution. Under this scheme, reimbursements of credit guarantee fee upto 1% of the loan amount is also allowed.
Till date, out of 276 applications submitted through online system for Stand-up India scheme under Powertex India Scheme, 250 applications pertain to women entrepreneurs. The estimated investment is about Rs. 200 crore from 01-04-2017 to till date.
INTEGRATED SKILL DEVELOPMENT SCHEME (ISDS):
With a view to address the critical skill gap in the textile sector, the Ministry of Textiles introduced ISDS.Under this scheme, 6, 41,983 women were trained since 2014-15 to 2018-19 which is 72% of total trained under the scheme.Out of this 6,17,915 have been assessed and 5,32,660 have been placed in their respective sectors.
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MM/ SB