GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Ministry of Textiles

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 310
TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.11.2010
Silk Based Mega Handloom Clusters in Karnataka

310. SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR:
Will the Minister of TEXTILES be pleased to state:

1. Whether Government has set up or proposes to set up Mega Handloom clusters particularly of silk based handloom in Karnataka;
2. If so, the details thereof; and
3. If not, the reasons therefor and what action Government proposes to take to develop handloom sector in Karnataka?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TEXTILES
(SMT. PANABAAKA LAKSHMI)

(a)to (c ): So far, four mega handloom clusters at Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), Sivsagar (Assam), Virudhunagar (Tamil Nadu) and Murshidabad (West Bengal) have been taken up. These mega handloom clusters have been taken up as per the announcement in the Budget for 2008-09 and 2009-10. One handloom cluster in Gadag (Karnataka), covering about 5000 handlooms has been taken up in 2006-07 under Integrated Handloom Cluster Development Scheme for its integrated and holistic development and is under implementation by Karnataka State Handloom Development Corporation (KHDC) Ltd. In addition, 23 handloom clusters, each covering 300-500 handlooms have been taken up in the State of Karnataka under the integrated Handlooms Development Scheme (IHDS) during the period 2007-08 to 2010-11 (upto October 2010). Further, 18 Group Approach Projects have been sanctioned upto 2009- 10 under the integrated Handlooms Development Scheme (IHDS).