New Delhi, June 30 : In an aim to facilitate more facilities and to fulfill funding needs of handloom weaver, Union textile Secretary, Smt Rasmhi Verma announced MUDRA (Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency) loan for five lakh Handloom Weaver.
Attending a national workshop on MUDRA scheme for handloom and artisans, organized by Office of the Development Commissioner of handlooms, Ministry of Textile at New Delhi, Smt Verma informed, government would provide special help to weavers by upgrading their skill, credit facilities, loom, good quality raw material availability, and branding of handloom products.
By stating importance of capital in earnings of weavers, he informed for providing better credit facilities government has introduced a new model consisting margin money, interest subvention and credit guarantee cover under MUDRA scheme to overcome past problem like low per capita amount sanctioned to weavers and its difficult procedures.
By welcoming this scheme, Smt Anjuly Chib Duggal, Secretary of Department of Finance Service said that it would help to transform handloom weavers into entrepreneurs. And providing loan to handloom weavers under MUDRA scheme should be a part of the regular agenda of State Level Bankers Committee.
According to sources, the Ministry of Textiles has been requested each state and UT to develop an action plan to actualize the five lakh target. The plan would cover all handloom clusters, with the aim of extending MUDRA loans to all eligible, willing, non-defaulting handloom weavers. The plan would also identify banks for each cluster, keeping in view the presence of banks and their willingness to participate in the scheme.
During the workshop, Tamil Nadu presented its plan for coverage.
Additional Secretary & Financial Advisor, Ministry of Textiles, Shri J. K. Dadoo, Development Commissioner of Handlooms, Shri Alok Kumar and Development Commissioner Handicrafts, Shri K. Gopal were present on the occasion.
Representatives from states, Indian Bank Association, banks and Weavers Service Centres also took part in the workshop.
