## Policy Summary: Development of Handloom and Handicraft Sectors in Rural Areas
The Government of India, through the Ministry of Textiles, is implementing several schemes to develop the handloom and handicraft sectors across the country, with a specific focus on rural areas. These schemes include:
1. National Handloom Development Programme
2. Raw Material Supply Scheme
3. National Handicraft Development Programme
4. Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme
These programs provide financial assistance for various interventions, including raw materials, purchase of looms, accessories and toolkits, design innovation, product diversification, infrastructure development, and marketing of handloom and handicraft products in domestic and overseas markets. Loans at concessional rates are also offered.
**Financial Outlay:**
The total funds released and utilized under these schemes over the last five years are as follows (in crore INR):
* 2020-21: 392.98
* 2021-22: 651.86
* 2022-23: 428.60
* 2023-24: 465.85
* 2024-25: 486.35
**Beneficiaries:**
Over the past five years, a total of 644,985 weavers and 510,320 artisans have benefited from these schemes across various states and union territories. Notably, 71% of the handloom weaver population and 64% of the artisan population are women.
**Special Provisions for Scheduled Tribes (STs) and other disadvantaged groups:**
The Ministry of Textiles provides additional incentives to ST communities to sustain and augment their businesses. Preference is given to programs that benefit weavers/artisans from women/SC/ST/OBC categories. A 100% subsidy is available to BPL/SC/ST/Women/Transgender/Differently-abled weavers for the construction of work sheds under the National Handloom Development Programme.
**Source:**
This information was provided by the Union Minister of Textiles, Shri Giriraj Singh, in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on July 25, 2025. (MAMSMP Release ID: 2148297)
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Textiles: The Indian government ministry responsible for the development of the handloom and handicraft sectors.
National Handloom Development Programme: A scheme implemented by the Ministry of Textiles for the development of the handloom sector.
Raw Material Supply Scheme: A scheme implemented by the Ministry of Textiles to provide raw materials for the handloom and handicraft sectors.
National Handicraft Development Programme: A scheme implemented by the Ministry of Textiles for the development of the handicraft sector.
Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme: A scheme implemented by the Ministry of Textiles for the development of handicrafts clusters.
Andhra Pradesh: A state in India with a significant number of weavers and artisans benefiting from the schemes.
Uttar Pradesh: A state in India with a significant number of weavers and artisans benefiting from the schemes.
SHRI GIRIRAJ SINGH: Union Minister of Textiles, who provided the information in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.
Ministry of Textiles
DEVELOPMENT OF THE HANDLOOM AND
HANDICRAFT SECTORS IN RURAL AREAS
Posted On: 25 JUL 2025 1:53PM by PIB Delhi
The Government of India, Ministry of Textiles is implementing following schemes for the development of
handloom and handicraft sectors across the country, including rural areas:
1. National Handloom Development Programme;
2. Raw Material Supply Scheme;
3. National Handicraft Development Programme;
4. Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme;
Under the above schemes, financial assistance is provided for raw materials, purchase of looms, accessories
and toolkits, design innovation, product diversification, infrastructure development, marketing of handloom
and handicraft products in domestic and overseas markets, loans at concessional rates, etc.
In the schemes implemented by the Ministry of Textiles in these sectors, 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 released and utilised under these
schemes during the last five years are as follows:
(Rs. In crore)
Year Funds released/utilised
2020-21 392.98
2021-22 651.86
2022-23 428.60
2023-24 465.85
2024-25 486.35
The details regarding State-wise number of beneficiaries including women weavers/artisans under schemes of
Handloom and Handicraft sectors during the last five years are given below.
In order to encourage ST communities, the Ministry of Textiles provides additional incentives to them to
sustain and augment their business. Some of the benefits provided to ST weavers/artisans across the country
are:
Under schemes of handloom and handicrafts sector, preference is given to programmes which have
(cid:108)
weavers/artisans from women/SC/ST/OBC category.
There is 100% subsidy to BPL/SC/ST/Women/Transgender/Differently-abled weavers for
(cid:108)
construction of work sheds under National Handloom Development Programme.
State-wise number of weavers/artisans including women under schemes of Handloom and Handicraft sectors
during the last five years
SI. No. State Weavers benefitted Artisan benefitted
1. Andhra Pradesh 85,201 17,597
2. Arunachal Pradesh 1,356 2,5003. Assam 46,120 21,163
4. Bihar 5,968 15,111
5. Chhattisgarh 7,509 4,530
6. Delhi 172 12,965
7. Goa 27 2,120
8. Gujarat 3,192 29,977
9. Haryana 3,514 7,435
10. Himachal Pradesh 2,319 15,136
11. Jammu & Kashmir 4,551 24,987
12. Jharkhand 5,713 9,674
13. Karnataka 25,440 12,894
14. Kerala 17,140 10,331
15. Madhya Pradesh 4,657 42,740
16. Maharashtra 4,515 18,996
17. Manipur 30,009 15,193
18. Meghalaya 494 4,426
19. Mizoram 2,617 2,350
20. Nagaland 1,073 4,730
21. Odisha 34,538 16,210
22. Puducherry 1,520 4,460
23. Punjab 567 9,310
24. Rajasthan 1,465 29,992
25. Sikkim 81 2,310
26. Tamil Nadu 1,25,463 13,806
27. Telangana 44,871 8,984
28. Tripura 1,749 16,230
29. Uttar Pradesh 1,20,818 1,04,054
30. Uttarakhand 5,302 8,315
31. West Bengal 55,964 14,531
32. All India (non-state specific) 1,060 7,263
Total 6,44,985 5,10,320
Besides, 1,810 artisans benefitted in A & N Islands, 750 in Chandigarh, 50 in Daman & Diu and 3,264 in
Ladakh.
Note: 71% of the handloom weaver population and 64% of the artisan population are women hence the
maximum benefits are being given to women weavers/artisans.
This information was provided by UNION MINISTER OF TEXTILES SHRI GIRIRAJ SINGH in a written
reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
***
MAM/SMP(Release ID: 2148297)