Parliament Question: Support to Handloom and Handloom Clusters

LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *234 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2026 SUPPORT TO HANDLOOM AND HANDLOOM CLUSTERS *234. SHRI PRADEEP PUROHIT: Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंत्री be pleased to state :. (a) whether the Government has taken steps to strengthen the production, branding, marketing and export of GI-tagged Sambalpuri handloom and Bandha textiles of Odisha under various Central schemes, if so, the details thereof; (b) the details of financial assistance, Common Facility Centres (CFCs), design development, skill upgradation and modernisation support provided to handloom clusters in Bargarh, Sambalpur, Sonepur, Balangir and Boudh during the last three years; (c) whether the Government proposes to provide dedicated support for e-commerce, branding, quality certification and international market access for Sambalpuri handloom products to improve weavers’ income, if so, the details thereof; and (d) whether any proposal is under consideration to establish additional textile parks, integrated handloom infrastructure or Common Facility Centres in western Odisha for generating employment and promoting value-added textile manufacturing, if so, the details thereof ? उत्तर ANSWER वस्त्र मंत्री (श्री गिररराज सिंह) MINISTER OF TEXTILES (SHRI GIRIRAJ SINGH) (a) to (d):- A statement is laid on the Table of the House.STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (A) TO (D) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *234 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2026 (a) to (c): The Ministry of Textiles is implementing the Raw Material Supply Scheme (RMSS) and National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP) to promote production, design development, branding, marketing and exports of handloom products, including GI-tagged Sambalpuri Handloom and Bandha Textiles of Odisha. Under RMSS, freight charges are reimbursed for all types of yarn and a 15% price subsidy is provided on cotton hank yarn, domestic silk, wool, linen and blended yarn of natural fibres. Under NHDP, marketing support is provided through Handloom Expos, Craft Melas, Dilli Haat and other events under Handloom Marketing Assistance (HMA) component, besides facilitating online marketing through the India Handmade e-commerce portal. The India Handloom Brand (IHB) promotes high-quality handloom products with authentic traditional designs, while the Handloom Mark certification assures consumers of genuine handwoven products. Export promotion is undertaken through participation of handloom exporters and weavers in international fairs and events, including Buyer-Seller Meets, Reverse Buyer-Seller Meets, India International Trade Fair, Bharat Tex and other exhibitions, through the Handloom Export Promotion Council (HEPC). Financial assistance of Rs.110.05 lakh has been provided in the State of Odisha for implementation for intervention under cluster development programme including Sambalpur district for modernization of handloom clusters during the last three years. Provision of engaging Designer is also available to provide design support to the weavers in clusters. Further, skill upgradation programmes are conducted under SAMARTH (Scheme for Capacity Building in Textile Sector). During the last three years, 272 handloom workers from Bargarh, Sambalpur, Sonepur and Balangir districts of Odisha have been trained. In addition, a Design Resource Centre has been established at Weavers' Service Centre, Bhubaneswar, to preserve traditional designs and promote design-led innovation. (d): At present, there is no such proposal under consideration of this Ministry. ******