TN lines up schemes to support handloom sector

The Tamil Nadu government has lined up several initiatives to expand the state’s handloom sector, which is one of the largest in the country and mostly cottage industry. The government would help the sector by developing clusters, group approach, and by providing financial and infrastructure assistance among others.

According to state government’s estimate, Tamil Nadu has 1,187 primary handloom weavers co-operative societies functioning as on March 31, 2011. These societies mostly exist in rural and semi urban areas.

The average annual production of different varieties of handloom cloth in the state is 125. 8 million metre and the sales transacted is to the extent of Rs 1,000 crore per year.

Of late, the industry has been taking a hit due to increased power cut, shortage of raw material and has been facing trouble in marketing their products.

In response to this, the state government has taken new initiatives including implementation of a centrally sponsored scheme, the Integrated Handloom Development Scheme, which aims at facilitating sustainable development of handloom weavers located in identified handloom clusters into a cohesive, self managing and competitive group.

The Centre has so far approved 52 clusters development programmes at a total project cost of Rs 34.82 crore, according to the state government. Officials from the department said the state government made a provision of Rs 10 crore for 2011-2012 for this programme.

The second initiative by the state government would be a group approach to help handloom weavers, who are not covered by clusters. According to the department’s policy note, a group should have preferably 10 weavers or more which can be in the form of self-help group or primary weavers cooperative society or other independent and individual weavers.

The government has sanctioned Rs 17.09 crore for 271 group approach projects and released Rs 13.06 crore. Under this scheme 13,621 weavers are getting benefits.

A provision of Rs 10 crore has been allocated in the Budget for the implementation of group approach scheme, said the note.

The Virudhunagar Mega Handloom Cluster under the Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme aims to create infrastructural and production facilities such as warping unit, winding unit, common facility centres with modern dye house and marketing complexes etc.,

Around 29,000 handloom weavers in the six districts would be benefited under the scheme. The cluster is being implemented with Centre's share of Rs 70 crore, state government share of Rs 8.84 crore and beneficiaries contribution of Rs 8.84 crore.

The Centre has sanctioned Rs 48.02 crore being the first installment of central share and released Rs 5.99 crore for implementing the project.

One of the major issues faced by the the weavers is marketing, said the official. To address this, the government has proposed to give grant towards marketing incentive on the sale of handloom products to maintain price competitiveness in the market.