Handlooms Schemes

The ancient famous Indian temples give us an account of the varieties of dress as well as styles of weaving and wearing. Each region of India has its own textile tradition and known for the production of distinct varieties of material.

The art of ornamenting handloom fabrics in India is an age-old traditional technique and custom from time immemorial. Although, India abounds with numerous types of costumes for women, saris and blouse have assumed a special importance and significance. Nothing identifies a woman as being Indian as strongly as the saris do.

Many clusters of Karnataka state is also home to traditional designs and intricate weaving methods. The more traditional saris of Karnataka are the Molkalmuru saris of Chitradurga and and the Ilkal saris of Bagalkot. Weaving is supposed to have come to Ilkal around the 8th century AD and the sheer rustic look of the textile keeps it still popular. The traditional Guledgudd Khana (Choli or Blouse, elsewhere called Khana), which is only one traditional cluster making blouse fabric in India. It compliments to Ilkal saris as this combination is widely used, not only in the northern part of Karnataka but also in the Marathawada and Vidarbha regions of Maharashtra.

Handloom sector employs a large number of women folk and thrives on inherited skills and patronage by rural population and connoisseurs of art. Karnataka has about 40000 handlooms and are engaged in weaving of silk, cotton and wool. However the handloom weavers are facing challenges in terms of marketing of their products. There is a need to preserve our heritage as well as to keep present day needs in mind in order to survive. Karnataka Handloom Development Corporation (KHDC) has been set up with main focus on development of Handlooms.
To facilitate the hand loom weavers the department is implementing following schemes:-
1. National Handloom Development Programme(NHDP):-
Under the Block level Cluster Scheme, developing handloom clusters at a cost of Rs. 60.00 lakhs to identify handloom clusters with concentrations of 500 to 2000 handlooms, provide facilities such as training, luggage and equipment delivery, general facility center and workshop.
2. Mahatma Gandhi Bunakar Yojana:-
Provision of Insurance cover to weavers between 18 to 59 years. If Rs.40/- of Insurance Premium is borne by weaver beneficiaries, then Rs.40/- by state government, Rs.150/- by Central Government and Rs.100/- by LIC of insurance premium will be borne.Rs.60,000/- for natural death of members of weavers,Rs.1,50,000/- for accidental death or permanent disability and for partial disability,Rs.75,000/- of insurance benefit will be provided. Scholarships of Rs.1,200/- per annum will be provided to students studying in 9,10,11,12 standards.
3.Health Insurance Scheme:-
Provison of health facilities to handloom weavers by collaborating with Health and Family Welfare Department in the model of National Wellness Bima Scheme.
4.Training to Handloom weavers(stipend):-
Providing scholarships to Karnataka students studying in Indian Institute of Handloom Technology of venkagirikote, selam and kannur.
5. Refund of funeral expenses of weaver’s death(handloom):-
If death occurs by members of weavers of co-operative society, then funeral expenses of Rs.5,000/- will be given to those family members. First amount will be released to weaver’s family where death has been occurred by co-operative society who has membership, then amount can be claimed from government.
6. Interest Subsidy on working capital borrowed by PHWCS under NABARD Refinance Scheme:-
The scheme provides reimbursement of interest @ 3% on CC limit borrowed by Primary weavers co-operative societies from the District Central Banks through NABARD refinance scheme.
7. New Designs and Trends(Tour):-
Under this scheme assistance will be provided to the Primary societies for adoption and implementation of latest designs as per the market trends and demands. Study tours are also organized to the weavers under the scheme. Construction of “Garment design center” by collaborating with National Institute of Design.
8.Thrift Fund Scheme for Handloom Weavers:
For the year 2017-18, a budget of Rs.75.00 lakhs has been allocated for implementing the scheme, as Government matching contribution. Under the scheme 8% of the wages earned by the weavers are collected as subscription to thrift fund. An equal matching contribution by Government will be remitted to the fund account maintained in Taluk Treasuries. 12% interest is being paid by the Government. The scheme is operated through the Treasury.
The beneficiary can draw advances to meet expenses in connection with marriage, house construction, medical expenses and education for children. The final amount becomes payable, along with interest, after completion of 15 years as subscriber to the fund (or) on his/her becoming totally incapacitated to work due to old age (or) after attaining the age of 60 years.
9. Interest subsidy on 1% and 3% loan provided by Co-operative banks:-
Weavers co-operative societies/Non-Agricultural credit Co-operative societies/Urban Co-operative banks provides loan under 1% interest price upto Rs.2.00 lakhs and providing interest subsidy under 3% interest price from Rs.2.00 lakhs to Rs.5.00 lakhs by state government.
10.Interest under Thrift Fund Scheme:-
Under Thrift fund Fund Scheme, 12% of interest will be paid by government to the amount in weaver’s account.
11.Marketing of handloom products (20% Rebate):-
The object of the scheme is to increase sale of Handloom products there by increasing production and continuous employment.
For the year 2017-18, Rs.700.00 lakhs budget provision has been made, which will be released to Co-operative Societies, Cauvery Handlooms, Woollen federation, Bangalore and Non-Khadi woollen federation, Challakere towards reimbursement of 20% rebate provided on sale of Handloom products during selected 180 days in the year.
12.Kaimagga Vikasa Yojane
Now a days handloom are decreasing , in order to continue the handloom weaving activity and to develop the sector and to attract the young weavers towards handloom weaving government is providing 50% assistance on purchase of cotton/ silk/ woolen handlooms by the beneficiaries and 75% assistance for the handloom co-operative societies.
13. Organizing of District level handloom Expo:-
State government, yearly during state’s important festivals and National Day’s organizes marketing of Handloom products under 20% discount price for 8 days in respective districts in the period where business is high from 180 days fixed period.
14.One time assistance to Handloom Co-Operative societies
In order to provide continuous employment to the handloom weavers of the co-operative societies & to provide the marketing support to the handloom products produced by the weavers. State Government will provide one time assistance to the handloom co-operative societies that can be utilized by the society as the working capital or to deposit the amount in the bank to increase the borrowing capacity of the society. This will be provided based on the last three years average turnover of the society to the maximum extent of Rs.5.00 lakhs.
15.Pneumatic/ Motorized Jacquard Kit
In order to decrease the stress of the handloom weavers and to increase the production capacity government is intended to provide pneumatic / Motorized jacquard kit.
Of the total project cost government will provide 75% grant for the general weavers and 90% SC/ST weavers.
16.Providing Electronic Jacquard for upgrading the Handloom Design.
In order to develop the market demand designed handloom products, the Government is intended to provide electronic jacquard to the existing handlooms weavers. By this production will be increased and the cost and time of designing will be reduced.
17. Nekar Samman Scheme.
A financial assistance has been increased from Rs.2,000/- to Rs.5,000/- for the financial year 2022-23 assistance will be provided for all working Handloom & allied weavers annually through Aadhar based DBT payment mode to each Handloom weaver beneficiary.