Executive Summary:
This document addresses Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4300 regarding handloom weavers, their upliftment, and the implementation of related schemes. It provides details on the number of handloom weavers and allied workers, outlines government schemes to increase their income, clarifies the issuance of identity cards, and presents data on social security scheme coverage in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, based on data until August 19, 2025. The document also includes measures for new registrations and updates to existing weaver information.
Key Points / Main Content:
Handloom Weaver Statistics:
* As of the Fourth All India Handloom Census 2019-20, there are 26,73,891 handloom weavers and 8,48,621 allied workers in the handloom sector across the country.
* State/UT-wise details of these numbers are provided in Annexure 1.
Government Schemes for Upliftment:
* The Ministry of Textiles implements the National Handloom Development Programme and the Raw Material Supply Scheme.
* The National Handloom Development Programme offers financial assistance for looms, accessories, solar lighting, worksheds, product design, infrastructure, marketing support, concessional loans (Mudra scheme), and social security.
* The Raw Material Supply Scheme provides transport subsidies for yarn and a 15% price subsidy on cotton hank yarn, domestic silk, woolen linen yarn, and blended yarn of natural fibers.
Identity Cards (Pehchan Cards):
* Handloom workers from the 4th All India Handloom Census have been provided Pehchan cards or can download e-Pehchan cards.
* An online portal launched on January 28, 2025, allows new registrations, editing of existing details, and downloading of e-Pehchan cards.
* Approximately 15,000 additional handloom workers have been approved for e-Pehchan cards through the online portal.
Social Security Scheme Coverage:
* Enrollment numbers for Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana (MGBBY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh are provided.
* Maharashtra: 3,349 (MGBBY converged), 220 (PMJJBY/PMSBY)
* Madhya Pradesh: 1,827 (MGBBY converged), 1,746 (PMJJBY/PMSBY)
Impact Analysis:
Handloom Weavers and Allied Workers:
Impact: Beneficiaries of schemes aimed at increasing income and providing social security. Those without Pehchan cards may face difficulty in availing scheme benefits.
Action Required: Register on the online portal to obtain/update Pehchan cards and enroll in applicable social security schemes.
Ministry of Textiles:
Impact: Responsible for implementing and monitoring the schemes and ensuring the efficient distribution of benefits.
Action Required: Continue implementing schemes, monitor the online portal for registrations, and ensure timely issuance of Pehchan cards.
State Governments (Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh):
Impact: Involved in the enrollment of weavers in social security schemes and facilitating the implementation of central government schemes.
Action Required: Facilitate weaver enrollment in social security schemes and cooperate with the Ministry of Textiles in implementing the outlined programs.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Textiles: The government ministry responsible for implementing schemes for handloom weavers.
National Handloom Development Programme: A scheme implemented by the Ministry of Textiles that provides financial assistance to handloom agencies and weavers for various purposes like procurement of looms, solar lighting units, workshed construction, product design, marketing support and concessional loans.
Raw Material Supply Scheme: A scheme implemented by the Ministry of Textiles that provides transport subsidy for yarn and price subsidy on cotton, silk, woollen, linen, and blended yarn.
Fourth All India Handloom Census 201920: A census report providing data on the number of handloom weavers and allied workers in India.
Maharashtra: A state in India where handloom weavers are facing issues with identity card issuance and benefit availment.
Madhya Pradesh: A state in India where handloom weavers are facing issues with identity card issuance and benefit availment.
Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana: A social security scheme for handloom weavers.
Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana: A social security scheme for handloom weavers.
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4300
TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.08.2025
HANDLOOM WEAVERS
4300. SMT. BHARTI PARDHI:
SHRI ARVIND GANPAT SAWANT:
SHRI BHAUSAHEB RAJARAM WAKCHAURE:
Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंत्री
be pleased to state :
(a) the details of handloom weavers at present, State and district-wise along with the steps taken by the
Government for their upliftment;
(b) the schemes currently being implemented by the Government to increase the income of handloom
weavers;
(c) whether the handloom weavers are not able to avail the benefits of the said schemes in absence of
identity cards;
(d) if so, the reasons therefor and the steps taken by the Government to improve the situation and provide
identity cards to handloom weavers at the earliest;
(e) whether there is a lot of delay in issuing identity cards to handloom weavers in Maharashtra and Madhya
Pradesh, if so, the reasons therefor;
(f) the manner in which the Government is addressing the issues that prevent weavers from availing the
benefits of the said schemes in the absence of the said identity card; and
(g) the percentage of eligible weavers currently covered under social security schemes like Mahatma
Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha
Bima Yojana in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh?
उत्तर
ANSWER
वस्त्र राज् य मंत्री (श्री पबित्र मार्घरे रटा)
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES
(SHRI PABITRA MARGHERITA)
(a)&(b): According to Fourth All India Handloom Census 2019-20 report, there are 26,73,891
handloom weavers and 8,48,621 allied workers in handloom sector across the country. Details for State/UT-
wise number of handloom weavers and allied workers in handloom sector are annexed as Annexure-1.To increase the income of handloom weavers and for their upliftment, Ministry of Textiles is implementing
following schemes across the country:
1. National Handloom Development Programme
2. Raw Material Supply Scheme
Under the National Handloom Development Programme, financial assistance is provided to eligible
handloom agencies/weavers for procurement of upgraded looms & accessories, solar lighting units,
construction of workshed, product & design development, technical and common infrastructure, marketing
support for handloom products in domestic/overseas markets, concessional loans under weavers’ MUDRA
scheme and social security etc.
Under the Raw Material supply Scheme, the Ministry provides transport subsidy for transportation of yarn
to the doorstep of the beneficiaries and 15% Price Subsidy on Cotton Hank yarn, Domestic Silk, Woollen &
Linen yarn and blended yarn of natural fibres.
(c)to(f): The handloom workers enumerated in the 4th All India Handloom Census have been
provided either Pehchan card or enabled downloading e-pehchan card across the country including
Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. An online portal was launched on 28the January 2025 for new registration
(left out from the 4th All India Handloom Census and new weavers and allied workers), editing the details
of the existing weavers and downloading of e-pehchan cards. Based on the registration in the online portal,
another 15,000 (Approx.) handloom workers have been approved for e-pehchan cards. Hence,
addition/deletion, updation etc. is dynamic and continuous process.
(g): Total Number of handloom weavers and allied workers enrolled under Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar
Bima Yojana (MGBBY)/converged MGBBY, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and
Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh are as follows:
State Beneficiaries enrolled under MGBBY/converged Beneficiaries enrolled under
MGBBY during 2014-15 to 2019-20 PMJJBY/PMSBY during 2021-22 to 2024-
25
Maharashtra 3,349 220
Madhya 1,827 1,746
PradeshAnnexure-1
Statement referred to in reply of part (a) & (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4300 for
answer on 19.08.2025
State/UT-wise number of handloom weavers and allied workers
as per 4th All India Handloom Census 2019-20
No. of handloom No. of allied No. of total handloom
SN States/UTs
weavers workers workers
1 Andhra Pradesh 1,27,662 49,785 1,77,447
2 Arunachal Pradesh 77,600 17,016 94,616
3 Assam 11,07,428 1,76,453 12,83,881
4 Bihar 7,216 5,631 12,847
5 Chhattisgarh 14,077 7,426 21,503
6 Delhi 3,236 1,049 4,285
7 Goa 22 4 26
8 Gujarat 10,179 422 10,601
9 Haryana 14,414 11,128 25,542
10 Himachal Pradesh 13,211 477 13,688
11 Jammu and Kashmir including 15,784 7,544 23,328
Ladakh
12 Jharkhand 12,364 10,133 22,497
13 Karnataka 27,175 27,616 54,791
14 Kerala 15,480 6,604 22,084
15 Madhya Pradesh 12,805 5,267 18,072
16 Maharashtra 2,882 627 3,509
17 Manipur 2,12,481 12,203 2,24,684
18 Meghalaya 41,221 1,553 42,774
19 Mizoram 17,298 10,242 27,540
20 Nagaland 35,950 7,534 43,484
21 Odisha 53,472 64,364 1,17,836
22 Puducherry 908 782 1,690
23 Punjab 631 338 969
24 Rajasthan 8,687 1,403 10,090
25 Sikkim 632 65 697
26 Tamil Nadu 1,97,818 45,757 2,43,575
27 Telangana 25,930 21,922 47,852
28 Tripura 1,11,927 25,712 1,37,639
29 Uttar Pradesh 1,30,778 60,179 1,90,957
30 Uttarakhand 7,967 4,594 12,561
31 West Bengal 3,66,656 2,64,791 6,31,447
All India 26,73,891 8,48,621 35,22,512
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