Union Budget 2012-13-Waiver for handlooms

Financial Package of Rs. 3884 Crore for Waiver of Handloom Loans 
Two Mega Handloom Clusters to be Set up in Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand 
Rs.500 Crore Geo-Textile Pilot Scheme and Weavers’ Service Centre for North-East

While presenting the Union Budget 2012-13 here today in LokSabha, ShriPranab Mukherjee, Finance Minister announced a financial package of Rs. 3884 crore for waiver of loans of handloom waiver and their co-operative societies. The Finance Minister has also announced setting-up of two mega handloom clusters covering Prakasam and Guntur districts in Andhra Pradesh, and Godda and neighbouring districts in Jharkhand. A powerloom mega cluster is proposed to be set-up in Ichalkaranji in Maharashtra with a Budget allocation of Rs. 70 crore in order to address the need of the local artisans and weavers. 

The Finance Minister, Shri Mukherjee announced that a Rs. 500 crore pilot scheme for promotion and application of Geo-textiles will be set up in the North-Eastern region. In addition, three Weavers’ Service Centers are proposed to be set up in Mizoram, Nagaland and Jharkhand. These centers provide technical support to poor handloom weavers, he stated.