Every year the Government of India (GoI) celebrates the National Handloom day on August 7 , to create awareness about the Handloom Industry amongst the public at large and its contribution to socio-economic development.
The 6th edition of the Nation Handloom Day is celebrated on August 7, 2020.
History and Background:
i.The Union Government had declared 7th August as the first National Handloom Day in July 2015. The day chosen in order to commemorate the Swadeshi Movement, launched on August 7, 1905.
ii.The sector serves as a key for women empowerment since 70% of the weavers and allied workers are women.
iii.The Handloom sector provides 15% of textile production of the country and more than 43 lakhs weavers employed from the backward community.
Schemes introduced by the Government:Â
Handloom Weavers’ Comprehensive Welfare Scheme (HWCWS):
The Scheme provides Life, accidental and disability insurance coverage under the components that includes: Pradhan Mantri Jivan Jyoti Bima Yojana(PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana(PMSBY) and Converged Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana(MGBBY) for the weavers.
National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP):
- Ministry of Textiles is providing reimbursement of 75% of the fee towards admission to NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling) and to IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open University) for the category of SC, ST, BPL, and Women learners belonging to handloom weavers’ families.
- Weaver MUDRA (Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency Bank) Scheme provides assistance upto 10,000 per weaver and credit guarantee for a period of 3 years.
- Financial assistance up to 50.00 lakh is also available for setting up of one dye house at district level.
 Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS):
- CHCDS covers Mega Handloom Clusters of 15000 to 25,000
- Financial assistance from40.00 to Rs.70.00 crore is provided in a period of 5 years.
- 8 mega handloom clusters were added in the Budgets includes: Varanasi, Sivasagar (2008-09), Virudhunagar, Murshidabad (2009-10), Prakasam and Guntur districts and Godda and its neighboring districts (2012-13), Bhagalpur and Trichy (2014-15).
 Yarn Supply Scheme (YSS):
Under the Scheme depot operating charges of 2% is given to depot operating agencies. A component of 10% price subsidy is provided on hank yarn, which is applicable on cotton, domestic silk and woollen yarn with quantity caps.
Recent related News
i.United Nations(UN) Micro-, Small and Medium – Sized Enterprises (MSME) Day is observed annually on 27th June to recognise the contributions of these enterprises to the global economy and sustainable development and their focus on promoting innovation and creativity.
About Ministry of TextilesÂ
Union Minister – Smriti Zubin Irani
