Under National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP), need based financial assistance in the form of Central Grant is provided to eligible handloom agencies/handloom workers through various components like Cluster Development Programme, Handloom Marketing Assistance, Weaver’s Mudra loan, Weaver’s welfare etc. on receipt of complete project proposals from States/UTs Governments and availability of fund in the respective financial year in relevant budget heads. Further, under Cluster Development Programme and Handloom Marketing Assistance components of NHDP, funds are released to States/UTs Governments in two installments, 1^st installment is released an advance and 2^nd (final) installment is released on submission of Utilization Certificate of atleast 70% funds of 1^st installment and relevant supporting documents, requirement of fund as 2^nd installment etc.

To ensure timely submission of proposals by the States/UTs Governments and released of funds by the Ministry, the targets under different components of NHDP are issued in the beginning of the respective financial year. Further, to ensure timely implementation of projects & utilization funds under National Handloom Development Programme, projects are monitored by (i) Senior Level officers of the Ministry through review meetings and field visits (ii) State Level Project Committee (SLPC) chaired by State Commissioner/Director of Handloom & Textiles concerned and (iii) Local Committee chaired by Head of Office, WSC concerned with representative of Directorate of Handloom & Textiles of concerned State.

As per 4^th All India Handloom Census 2019-20 report, there are 35.22 lakh handloom workers (weavers & allied workers) in India. The handloom workers enumerated in the 4^th All India Handloom Census have been provided either Pehchan card or enabled downloading e-pehchan card. An online portal was launched on 28^the January 2025 for new registration (left out from the 4^th All India Handloom Census and new weavers and allied workers), editing the details of the existing weavers and downloading of e-pehchan cards. Based on the registration in the online portal, another 15,000 (Approx.) handloom workers have been approved for e-pehchan cards. Hence, addition/deletion, updation etc. is dynamic and continuous process.

Since, 2021-22 to 2025-26 (till 30.06.2025) about 6.27 lakh handloom workers have been benefited through various components like Cluster Development Programmes (CDP), Weaver’s Mudra loan, Insurance, weaver’s welfare etc. under NHDP.

This information was provided by UNION MINISTER FOR TEXTILES SHRI GIRIRAJ SINGH in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

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MAM/SMP

(Lok Sabha US Q1473)

(Release ID: 2149712)