New Delhi, Jul 23 (KNN) Skill upgradation training has been imparted to 56,934 weavers since 2015-16 to 2020-21, of which 5,498 weavers belong to Uttar Pradesh (UP), said Minister of State for Textiles, Darshana Jardosh.

''The Ministry of Textiles is conducting training programmes for handloom workers through 28 Weavers’ Service Centres (WSCs) functioning in the country which are under administrative control of the Ministry. From 2015-16 to 2020-21, skill upgradation training has been imparted to 56,934 weavers, of which 5,498 weavers belong to Uttar Pradesh,'' the minister informed the parliament on Thursday. 

Following schemes are being run by the Ministry of Textiles for the overall development & promotion of handlooms and welfare of handloom weavers across the country are: National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP), Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS), Handloom Weavers’ Comprehensive Welfare Scheme (HWCWS) and Yarn Supply Scheme (YSS).

Under the above schemes, financial assistance is provided for raw materials, purchase of looms and accessories, design innovation, product diversification, infrastructure development, skill upgradation, lighting units, marketing of handloom products in domestic as well as overseas markets, getting loans at concessional rates, etc.

Skill upgradation is a continuous process. Need-based skill upgradation programmes for handloom workers in technical areas viz. Weaving, dyeing, designing, etc. were earlier conducted under National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP), Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) and now under SAMARTH- Capacity Building in Textile Sector.