Parliament Question: Women in Textile Industry

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 272 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.07.2026 WOMEN IN TEXTILE INDUSTRY 272. MS. S JOTHIMANI: Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्रमंत्री be pleased to state : (a) whether the Government is aware that a large number of women are employed in the textile and garment sectors in Karur and Tiruppur districts of Tamil Nadu, particularly in spinning mills, garment factories and home-based units and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether any assessment has been undertaken regarding their working conditions, wages, health and access to social security and if so, the key findings; (c) the details of central schemes or welfare measures implemented to support women workers in the textile sector, including maternity benefits, skill development, crèche facilities and occupational health provisions, if so, the details thereof; (d) whether the Government proposes to launch or expand targeted initiatives in these districts to promote labour rights, improve work standards and support women-led enterprises and if so, the details thereof; and (e) whether the Ministry is engaging with the State Government, industry associations and trade unions to address exploitation, wage disparity and lack of protection faced by women workers in the textile supply chain? उत्तर ANSWER वस्त्रराज‍य् मंत्री(श्री पबित्र मार्घरे रटा) THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES (SHRI PABITRA MARGHERITA) (a) Government conducts various censuses and surveys for various sectors including textiles like Fourth All India Handloom Census, 2019-20, annual Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises etc. which provide estimate on employment including women engaged in textiles and apparel sector which also include Karur and Tiruppur. (b) The assessment of workers including women working conditions, wages, social security etc. on regular basis is undertaken by respective State Government and central Government agencies. (c) & (d) The Chapter IV of the Code of Social Security, 2020 (ESIC) apply on every establishment in which ten or more persons are employed other than a seasonal factory which provides coverage on ESI benefits viz., maternity benefits, working hours, occupational safety and participation of women workers across sector. Further, the Ministry has taken acomprehensive approach—combining industrial development, cluster strengthening, skill upgrading, etc. to support textiles & traditional sector which includes improvement in women’s participation and productivity which inter-alia include: 1. Samarth - Women form the majority of beneficiaries in SAMARTH skill programmes— especially in garmenting, embroidery, knitwear, handicrafts, etc. Under Samarth scheme, 5.3 lakh beneficiaries have been successfully trained of which 88% beneficiaries are women 2. Handloom Sector- Flagship scheme for Raw material supply to Handloom weavers (includes women Handloom weavers); RMSS provides Transport subsidy (all types of yarns), 15% Price Subsidy and depot operating expenses. Further, eligible beneficiaries cover women handloom weavers by including individual weavers, Agencies in which weavers are members i.e. Self Help Groups (SHGs), Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) and Cooperative Societies, Handloom Producer Company, Weavers Entrepreneurs. Additionally, some of the special provisions provided are: i. In partnership with Ministry of Textiles & Office of DC Handlooms, UN Women launched #Srijan, a series of workshops to nurture leadership & entrepreneurship among women artisans, set to reach 1000 women weavers across India within a year, 1st workshop held at Varanasi on 18.10.2025 ii. Women weavers receive 100% subsidy for construction of work sheds under National Handloom Development Programme. More than 73% beneficiaries under Small Cluster Development Programme are women. iii. Handloom Weaver MUDRA Portal developed with Punjab National Bank for centralized online claim disbursement, cutting down delays in financial assistance for margin money, interest subvention, and credit guarantee fee iv. Women Day slot at Dilli Haat (1st-15th March 2026) and Panch Lakhiya weaver didi slot (16th-31st August 2025) organised. v. 30 women-led Producer Companies and 15 women-led startups across the country. vi. Kamladevi Chattopadhyay Award instituted since 2016 specifically for women weavers, with 14 awards conferred so far. 4. Central Silk Board has developed women-friendly innovations to reduce drudgery and improve productivity viz., Automatic/motorised reeling and spinning machines with women- friendly operations, financial assistance under central schemes and promotion of women SHGs etc. (e) A formal framework to extend protections was initiated with the nationwide implementation of the Four Labour Codes. New Labour Codes aim to enhance welfare, maternity benefits, working hours, occupational safety and participation of women workers across sector including textile sector, where women form a substantial share of the workforce. ******