Handlooms
The J&K State is famous for the weaving of specialized fabrics like Pashmina shawls, Raffal shawls, Kani shawls, Silk sarees, Kishtwari blankets, Lois, Chashme Bul Bul blankets in hilly areas of the State besides Cotton Check bed sheets and long cloth in Jammu and Kathua Districts. The handloom sector, besides being environment friendly, has enormous employment potential as it is highly labour intensive with low capital investment.
To give boost to this Industry, the State Govt. is laying focus on product design and diversification, providing adequate credit facilities, enhancing weavers productivity through up-gradation of skills, use of efficient looms, providing market access through incentives and wide publicity.
There are 3741 handloom units in the State employing same number of persons producing Loies, Puttos, Tweed, Blankets, Raffal, Pashmina and Dusoti Khad. Integrated Handloom Development Scheme (IHDS) is a centrally sponsored scheme which is being implemented by the Department to facilitate development of cohesive, self-managing and competitive handloom units. Under the said scheme, 12 Handloom Clusters and 17 Group approach projects have been taken up at the projected cost of Rs 832.19 lakh.
Handloom Co-operative Societies
The Department has 523 registered Handloom Industrial Co-operative Societies in the State with a membership of 15275 weavers. There are approximately 38,000 Handlooms in the State. During 2013-14, 10.26 million meters of handloom fabrics valuing Rs.232.95 Crore were produced in the cooperative sector. The production and value of handloom fabrics for the current financial year viz 2014-15 (ending 11/2014) is of the order of 9.98 million meters and Rs.226.61 Crore respectively. Loan facility is also being provided to these cooperative societies for purchase of sewing machines.
Marketing Support
The Department is encouraging the co-operatives societies to participate in the national level, special handloom expos and State level fairs all over the country by reimbursing the stall rent charges. The handloom cloth has to compete with the power loom cloth. In order to make the handloom cloth competitive in the market, the department reimburses 10% special rebate to the societies as an incentive on the sale of handloom cloth/products made at the national level expos and fairs organized by the Development Commissioner Handlooms, New Delhi.
Training Centers
The Department runs 100 training centers to impart training in various trades which include readymade garments, handloom weaving, Pashmina spinning and weaving, and Kani shawl weaving. Out of 100 training centers, 84 centers are exclusively imparting training in readymade garments and handloom weaving. Around 1000 trainees are annually imparted technical skill in these centers. During the year 201415, 1044 trainees have been enrolled for training in different trades. Candidates are also being sponsored for undergoing diploma courses in handloom technology. Under National handloom Development Programme (previously Integrated Handloom Development Scheme), comprehensive training is also provided to handloom weavers and workers in technical managerial, cooperative marketing skill to enable them to produce high value and diversified quality products keeping in view the trend of the domestic and international markets.
Welfare of weavers
Two schemes viz. Health Insurance Scheme and Mahatma Gandhi Bunker Bima Yojana are being implemented for the welfare of weavers in the State. During 201415 (ending 11/2014) 16265 weavers have been covered under Health Insurance scheme and 188 weavers provided Insurance cover under Mahatma Gandhi Bunker Bima Yojana In addition to this, 296 girl students of handloom weavers have been given scholarship to the extent of Rs 1.62 lakh during 2013-14 and 63 girl students during current financial year 2014-15 ending 11/2014 under Education Scheme.
Weavers Credit Card Scheme
Weavers Credit Card Scheme of GoI is being implemented by the Department with an aim to provide adequate and timely credit upto Rs. 2.00 lakh from banking Institutions to the weavers to meet their credit requirement. The Department has sponsored 1476 number of cases of individual weavers upto ending 11/2014 against a target of 1500 Weaver Credit Cards for the year 2014-15. 269 number of WCCs have been issued upto ending 11/2014.
Over-view of Achievements
An overview of the achievements made under Handloom Sector during 2013-14 & 2014-15 (ending Nov. 2014) is given as under.
Achievements made under Handloom Sector during 2013-14 & 2014-15
(ending Nov. 2014) |
S.
No |
Particulars |
Unit |
2013-14
Achievement |
2014-15
Achievement
(ending 11/2014) |
1 |
Cooperative Sector
(a) Production of Fabrics
(b) Value |
M/Mtrs
Rs in Crore |
10.26
232.95 |
9.98
226.61 |
2 |
Trainees Trained / Enrollment |
Nos. |
1042 |
1044 |
3 |
Organization of Cooperative Societies |
Nos. |
12 |
02 |
4 |
Membership |
Nos. |
138 |
55 |
5 |
Modernization of Looms |
Nos. |
185 |
44 |
6 |
Mahatma Gandhi Bunker Bima Yojana |
Nos. |
655 |
188 |
7 |
Health Insurance Scheme |
Nos. |
16265 |
16265 |
8 |
Education Scheme. |
Nos. |
296 |
63 |
|