The Government has proposed to set up three weavers' service centres at Jharkhand, Mizoram and Nagaland to provide technical support to poor handloom weavers.
“I am also happy to announce a Rs 500-crore pilot scheme in the 12th Plan for the promotion and application of geo-textiles in the North East Region,” the Finance Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, said while presenting the Budget 2012-13.
The Minister has announced two more mega handloom clusters at Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand. Already four mega handloom clusters are operationalised in the country.
“I also propose to provide assistance in setting up of dormitories for women workers in the five mega clusters relating to handloom, powerloom and leather sectors,” he said.
To address the needs of local artisans and weavers, the Government proposed to set up a powerloom mega cluster in Maharashtra with a Budget allocation of Rs 70 crore.