Parliament Question: Scholarships sanctioned for children of textile workers

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TEXTILES RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-959 ANSWERED ON- 06/02/2026 SCHOLARSHIPS SANCTIONED FOR CHILDREN OF TEXTILE WORKERS 959. SHRI K.R. SURESH REDDY: Will the Minister of TEXTILES be pleased to state: (a) the details of the number of scholarships sanctioned for the children of textile workers between October 2021 and October 2025, year-wise; (b) the details of the number of scholarship applications received for the scholarship scheme for the same period, year-wise; (c) the details of the maximum number of students eligible for the scholarship annually; (d) the details of the eligibility criteria, application procedure and department responsible for the implementation of the same; and (e) steps taken by the Ministry to improve coordination with State implementing agencies and spread awareness about the scheme? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES (SHRI PABITRA MARGHERITA) (a) to (d): Ministry of Textiles, Government of India is providing financial support as scholarship maximum upto Rs.2.00 lakh per annum to handloom weavers/workers’ children (upto 2 children) for study in Diploma/Under Graduate/Post Graduate courses of Central/State Government recognized/funded Textiles Institutions under National Handloom Development Programme since October, 2021. For availing scholarship, handloom weavers/workers submit the applications of their ward to nearest Weavers’ Service Centres (WSCs) i.e. field offices/sub-ordinate offices under the administrative control of the office of Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles, who is responsible for implementation of the scheme. With the recommendation of concerned Zonal office of WSC, scholarships are sanctioned for eligible handloom weavers/workers’ children by office of Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles to concerned Zonal office for onward transmission to the bank account of handloom weavers/workers or their ward. All the eligible students, who apply for scholarship, are granted the same. Year-wise details of scholarship applications received and sanctioned between October 2021 and October 2025 are as under: Financial year Number of scholarship Number of scholarship applications received applications sanctioned 2021-22(since October 2021) 33 - 2022-23 57* 45 2023-24 108 45 2024-25 173 183** 2025-26 154 110 (upto October 2025) *Includes applications received in 2021-22 **Includes applications received in 2023-24 (e): To improve coordination with State implementing agencies, WSCs are conducting regular meetings with them and organize camps/chaupals to spread awareness about the scheme amongst handloom weavers/workers. ****