## Policy Summary: Handloom Revival Initiatives
This document summarizes the Indian Ministry of Textiles' (MoT) initiatives to revive the handloom sector, particularly focusing on collaborations with State Governments, including those in Odisha and Cuttack district. The MoT, in conjunction with various State Governments, provides financial and institutional support for handloom development and weaver welfare through central sector schemes, namely the National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP) and the Raw Material Supply Scheme (RMSS).
**Key interventions and their impact in Odisha (2014-15 to 2025-26, as of June 30, 2025):**
* **National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP):**
* Clusters: 35 in Odisha, with 3 specifically in Cuttack.
* Skill Upgradation Training: 5,780 beneficiaries in Odisha, 236 in Cuttack.
* SAMARTH Skill Upgradation Training: 51 programs in Odisha, 9 in Cuttack.
* Trainees Enrolled under SAMARTH: 1,349 in Odisha, 250 in Cuttack.
* Hathkargha Samvardhan Sahayata (HSS): 6,548 in Odisha, 565 in Cuttack.
* Lighting Units: 1,151 in Odisha, 266 in Cuttack.
* Worksheds: 109 in Odisha, 9 in Cuttack.
* **Raw Material Supply Scheme (RMSS):**
* Yarn Supply (Lakh Kgs):
* 2022-23: Odisha - 2.937, Cuttack - 0.191
* 2023-24: Odisha - 4.254, Cuttack - 0.260
* 2024-25: Odisha - 4.644, Cuttack - 0.277
* 2025-26 (up to July 31, 2025): Odisha - 1.495, Cuttack - 0.101
Financial assistance is provided to eligible handloom agencies/weavers for various purposes, including raw materials, upgraded looms and accessories, solar lighting units, workshed construction, skilling, product design development, technical and common infrastructure, marketing, concessional loans under the Weavers MUDRA scheme, social security, and payments to awardee weavers in indigent circumstances. Implementation is carried out through Central/State Government agencies.
An independent third-party impact evaluation study conducted in 2019-20 indicated that these schemes have had a positive impact on the performance of the handloom sector and have played a significant role in improving the average earnings of handloom weavers.
Key Entities Referenced
SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB: Member of Parliament who raised the question regarding handloom revival initiatives.
Ministry of Textiles: The Indian government ministry responsible for policies related to the textile industry.
Odisha: A state in India where the impact of handloom schemes is being assessed.
Cuttack district, Odisha: A specific district within the state of Odisha that is a focus of the handloom revival initiatives.
National Handloom Development Programme: A central sector scheme implemented by the Ministry of Textiles to promote handlooms.
Raw Material Supply Scheme: A central sector scheme implemented by the Ministry of Textiles to support handloom weavers by providing raw materials.
SAMARTH: A skilling initiative under the National Handloom Development Programme.
Hathkargha Samvardhan Sahayata: Scheme for providing handloom assistance.
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2741
TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.08.2025
NEW HANDLOOM REVIVAL INITIATIVES
2741. SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:
Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंत्री
be pleased to state :
(a) whether the Government has collaborated with State Governments for new handloom revival
initiatives;
(b) if so, the details of such collaborative programmes and their impact in Odisha, especially in Cuttack
district; and
(c) whether any performance audit has been conducted on such schemes and if so, the details thereof?
उत्तर
ANSWER
वस्त्र राज् य मंत्री (श्री पबित्र मार्घरे रटा)
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES
(SHRI PABITRA MARGHERITA)
(a) & (b): Ministry of Textiles (MoT), Government of India and various State Governments are
providing financial & institutional support for development of handlooms and welfare of weavers. MoT
is implementing central sector schemes such as (i) National Handloom Development Programme
(NHDP) and (ii) Raw Material Supply Scheme (RMSS) to promote handlooms and for welfare of
handloom weavers across the country including Cuttack district of Odisha. Under these schemes,
financial assistance is provided to eligible handloom agencies/weavers for raw materials, procurement of
upgraded looms & accessories, solar lighting units, construction of workshed, skilling, product & design
development, technical and common infrastructure, marketing, concessional loans under weavers’
MUDRA scheme, social security, payment to awardee weavers in indigent circumstances etc. Most of
these components are implemented through Central & State Governments agencies.
Impact of these schemes in Odisha including Cuttack district is as under: -
(i) National Handloom Development Programme (2014-15 to 2025-26 as on 30.06.2025)
Sr. No. Interventions Odisha Cuttack
1. Number of clusters 35 03
2. No. of Skill up-gradation training beneficiaries 5,780 236
3. Number of Skill up-Gradation training programme under SAMARTH 51 09
4. Number of trainees enrolled under SAMARTH 1,349 250
5. Hathkargha Samvardhan Sahayata(HSS) 6,548 565
6. Lighting units 1,151 266
7. Worksheds 109 09(ii) Raw Material Supply Scheme (RMSS)
Qty of yarn supplied – In Lakh Kgs,
Odisha Cuttack
Year
Qty Qty
2025-26 (up to 31.07.25) 1.495 0.101
2024-25 4.644 0.277
2023-24 4.254 0.260
2022-23 2.937 0.191
(c): During 2019-20, impact evaluation study was conducted by independent third parties of
handloom schemes. As per evaluation reports, the schemes have had positive impact on performance of
the handloom sector and has played a major role in improving average earnings of handloom weavers.
****