Textiles Secretary Neelam Shami Rao presided over a meeting in Bengaluru with the Weavers’ Service Association to discuss sector-related issues and promised Government help.
During the meeting, researchers from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and CSIR’s National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) also presented new projects funded by the National Technical Textile Mission.
The conference with Bengaluru’s textile institutes and groups was chaired by the secretary of textiles on 9th April 2025, said the Ministry of Textiles in a post on X, adding that it had discussed textile-related concerns with the Weavers’ Service Association and promised its cooperation.
There are 35,22,512 handloom weavers and labourers nationwide, according to the 4th All India Handloom Census 2019–20. For the benefit of handloom weavers and workers nationwide, the Ministry of Textiles is putting the National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP) into action.
According to data recently presented in Parliament, the Centre has granted more than Rs. 364 crore (US $ 42.26 million) for programs that will help the nation’s handloom workers during the current fiscal year.
In a written response to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Textiles Pabitra Margherita stated that although Rs. 192.06 crore (US $ 22.23 million) had been allocated for the National Handloom Development Programme, another Rs. 171.98 crore (US $ 19.96 million) had been distributed under the Raw Material Supply Scheme for handloom workers.
Under the schemes, handloom weavers and labourers over 60 who are in need and earn less than Rs. 1 lakh (US $ 1161) a year are given financial assistance of Rs. 8,000 (US $ 93) per month.
Handloom weavers’ and workers’ children (up to two children) are also eligible for scholarships of up to Rs. 2 lakh (US $ 2322) annually to study diploma, undergraduate, or graduate programs at Central or State Government-funded textile colleges.
Through insurance programs like Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, universal and affordable social security is also provided in the event of an accident or natural death as well as complete or partial disability.
