The handloom is an important part of Indian heritage, as it has been around for centuries. It represents
several livelihood opportunities, especially for women who have been creating clothes for citizens for
generations. Historically, women have played an important role in this tradition since ancient times—
weaving remains a traditional skill that helped our ancestors survive against all odds. In today’s modern
age, where technology has taken over with every passing century, it is essential that we have
government support to ensure consistency and effective implementation of similar policies across
various states and industries.
In this blog, we will talk about five government-approved programs that will benefit the handloom
industry. These programs aid Indian rural residents while providing the handloom sector with a
sustainable source of income.
National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP):
The NHDP is a central sector plan scheme that was implemented in 2021 to promote sustainable,
inclusive, and resilient handloom weaving groups. By creating a market for the products and a handloom
weaving industry, this program attempts to help rural development. It does this by putting best
practices, guidelines, and strategies for producing woven fabrics into practice. It also encourages exports
through weaving shows and exhibitions. With a focus on the development of a cluster focused on
handlooms in every block, NHDP will provide training and raw materials to enable small and marginal
farmers to develop innovative products and increase their income. This will create a supportive
environment for weavers, which will help them become self-sustainable, thus enhancing their livelihood.
Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS):
We can all agree that handloom weaving is a form of art and that it should be preserved. The
Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) is a major step towards achieving just
this goal, as it aims to ensure better preservation of handlooms in rural areas of our country by enabling
handloom weavers (hand embroidery artists) and their families to develop sustainable livelihoods for
themselves. The plan was developed by the Indian government to establish sizable clusters of handloom
weavers, each of which would have at least 15000 looms, receive at least Rs 30 crore in assistance, and
get the support that would be tailored to meet their specific needs.
Handloom Weavers’ Comprehensive Welfare Scheme (HWCWS):
The Handloom Weavers' and Workers’ Comprehensive Welfare Scheme (HWCWS) aims to provide a
social security system for weavers and handloom workers. The scheme will help them secure their
future by providing insurance coverage, skill development, and financial assistance. Children of
handloom weavers who wish to pursue higher education and develop their abilities can apply for
financial aid. Under the HWCWS Scheme, financial aid in the form of scholarships worth up to Rs. 2 lakhs
per year is offered to handloom weavers' children so they can attend textile institutes.
Weavers Mudra Scheme:
Millions of weavers in India have benefited from Mudra, one of the most successful economic
development initiatives ever introduced by the Indian government. This program's goal is to support
rural communities financially and boost their economies so they can meet their basic needs. The scheme
is designed to offer handloom weavers, who traditionally produce yarn and cloth, a credit facility so they
can grow their business by taking care of their credit needs.
Yarn Supply Scheme:
The Yarn Supply Scheme (YSS) has been put into place to make handlooms produce yarn and afford
them quality, which is one of the most vital elements of handloom production. To achieve this goal,
NHDC is providing a demand-driven supply system that will help create more employment opportunities
in each district through the provision of necessary supplies such as hanks and yarn. Working together,
they intend to enable weavers to benefit from YSS at a lower cost than through the open market.
To summarize, the Top 5 Handloom Development Schemes mentioned above have been effective in
changing the Indian handloom industry and the lives of those involved. The schemes have proven to be
effective and should continue to grow as India's potential is yet to be realized.
5 GOVT.APPROVED SCHEMES THAT WILL HELP THE HANDLOOM INDUSTRY
