IMPHAL, June 2 (DIPR): Manipur has the highest concentration of weavers and also highest concentration on the possession of loom in the country.
India’s population in 2011 is reported as 1210 million including 2.72 million of Manipur (sharing 0.22% of all India). The Handloom Census 2009-10 reported that Manipur has 2.04 lakh handloom workers (sharing 5.30% of all India) and 1.90 lakh loom (sharing 8.02% of all India).
Thus, Handloom is the most important and fast growing cottage industry in the state.
The primary objective of Handlooms & Textiles Section under the Department of Commerce & Industries, Govt. of Manipur is to promote the socio-economic conditions of the handloom weavers and to work for the harmonious growth of this sector.
With the above potential, the Sector has implemented various promotional, development and welfare schemes for the better earning and wellbeing of weavers of Manipur. Over a period of Three Five Years Plan, i.e. 2002-07, 2007-2012 and 2012-17, the Handloom sector has tremendously improved in all fronts. Among many achievement and improvement, a few exemplary achievements are highlighted in the following manner:
Margin Money: It is a form of financial assistance provided to weavers to avail credit facilities from FI/Banks. The amount so provided to weavers deposited in the bank account of the agency or SHG. The rate margin money under Deen Dayal Hathkargha Protsahan Yojana (DDHPY) implemented from 2002 to 2007 was Rs.4000/- and Rs.6000/-per weaver under Integrated Handloom Development Scheme (IHDS) from 2007 to 2013-14. A total of 18272 were covered with Rs.698.40 lakh in these two schemes with contribution of 10% as State share.
Skill Upgradation (Training): In order to facilitate weavers to switch over from low value items to better and high value added products, assistance for skill upgradation was given to 14497 weavers with Rs.471.80 lakh under DDHPY from 2002 to 2007 and IHDS from 2007 to 2014 as 100% funding of GOI. Additional 11550 weavers will be trained by Rs.1262.41 lakh under Integrated Skill Development Scheme (ISDS) within 2017 with 10% as State share.
Common Facility Centre (CFC): In order to carry out common activities, like, warping, dyeing, pre and post-loom operation, a total of 115 CFCs were constructed with an amount of Rs.553.93 lakh under DDHPY from 2002 to 2007 and IHDS from 2007 to 2014 with contribution of 10% as State share.
Loom, Jacquard, Dobby and Accessories: New loom for loomless, accessories for new loom, jacquard and dobby for producing new designs were provided to 28412 weavers for amount of Rs.866.88 lakh under DDHPY from 2002 to 2007 and IHDS from 2007 to 2014 with contribution of 10% as State share.
Construction of Workshed: In order to create a better working atmosphere with better light and environment, 17042 worksheds were constructed for the cost of Rs.600.67 lakh under Workshed-Cum-Housing Scheme from 2003-2006, IHDS from 2007 to 2014 and North Eastern Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS) in 2014-15 with 10% as State share.
Group workshed with Solar Home Light: In order to enable the weavers to work in a group of 5-6 weavers, a total of 306 group worksheds were constructed and 306 solar light at the cost of Rs.1071.00 lakh were provided under NERTPS inclusive of 10% contribution of State share in 2014-15.
Opening of Yarn Depots: For regular availability of yarn of requisite counts for a month, one-time assistance was provided as a corpus fund to the National Handloom Development Corporation (NHDC). It was to ensure supply of yarn to 117 Yarn Depots of 117 Handloom Clusters with a Corpus Fund of Rs.274.50 lakh under IHDS from 2007 to 2014 and NERTPS in 2014-15 as 100% GOI funding.
Employment to Unemployed Diploma & Degree Holders: In order to monitor, supervise and producing new and attractive designs, a total of 166 Diploma and Degree in Handloom Technology, Textile Technology and Fashion Technology and Fashion Designers were employed in 117 Handloom Clusters. It was 100% Central assistance of Rs.1016.40 lakh under IHDS from 2007 to 2014 and NERTPS in 2014-15.
Recapitalization of Handloom Societies: Handloom Cooperative Societies were choked due to non repayment of outstanding loan overdue with banks and financial institutions. In order to remove these difficulties, the GOI announced Revival, Reform and Restructuring Package for Handloom Sector in 2012-14 with 10% as State share on two components, namely, waiving of loan and recapitalization of societies. A total of 1641 cooperative societies were recapitalized with Rs.30.99 crore with waiving of loan in favour of 04 Banks.