chapter viii wool & wollen textiles industry - Ministry of Textiles

annual report 2011-12
CHAPTER XVIII
GENDER JUSTICE
HANDLOOM SECTOR
The Handloom Sector employs
43.31 lakh persons in weaving
and allied activities with 23.77 lakh
handlooms. This sector is weaver-specific/
occupational in nature, with the majority
of weavers belonging to the poorest and
the marginalized sections of the society.
Work participation in handloom activity
in India is dominated by female workers.
About 78% handloom workers are female.
The dominance of female weavers in the
total weavers’ workforce is the highest in
the North-eastern states where it is 99%
as per the report of the Handloom Census
of India (2009-10).
The Government of India is implementing
five schemes for the development of
handloom sector and welfare of weavers
including women during 11th Plan, which
are (i) Integrated Handloom Development
Scheme, (ii) Handloom Weavers
Comprehensive Welfare Scheme, (iii)
Mill Gate Price Scheme, (iv) Marketing
and Export Promotion Scheme and (v|)
Diversified Handloom Development
Scheme.
SILK SECTOR
Under the Catalytic Development
Programme, the following programmes
have been implemented by the Central
Silk Board (CSB) for the benefit of women
workers:
= Promotion of women friendly
technology packages, developed by
the research institutes of CSB.
= Supply of improved reeling cum
twisting devices and spinning
wheels to the NGOs, women groups,
individual women reelers / spinners
at 50% subsidy ( CSB & State)¬
= Training programmes were organized
to impart training to women reelers /
spinners on the operation of improved
devices; and
= Implementation of Cluster
Development Projects by the
integration of CDP schemes, wherein
support is provided to Women Self
Help Groups.
The Central Silk Board has, among other
things, been implementing a specific
programme for women viz. “Women
Development Components” under the
centrally Sponsored Scheme - Catalytic
Development Programme (CDP) during
XI Plan period. The programme consists
of two sub-components viz (i) “Health
Insurance Programme for women
sericulturists and (ii) Toilets, Rest Rooms
and Creches facilities for Women in
Cocoon markets.
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