Minister for Textiles, Giriraj Singh, stated that the spirit of "Vocal for Local" and "Atmanirbhar Bharat" has strengthened the country's handloom sector, and it represents a unique identity of the nation. Responding to supplementary questions in the Rajya Sabha today, Mr. Singh said that under the leadership of Narendra Modi, the celebration of National Handloom Day was initiated for the first time in 2015. He said that this initiative was intended to convey a message that the nation proudly recognizes and appreciates the hard work, contribution, and heritage of its weavers.
Mr. Singh stated that nearly 95 per cent of the world's handloom products are produced in India. He said that the handloom sector is a women-led sector, where around 70 per cent of the participants are women. The Minister informed that currently, there are over 28 lakh looms in the country, of which 25 lakh are located in rural areas. He said that around 35 lakh 22 thousand weavers and workers are associated with this sector.
Mr. Singh said that earlier, workers did not have access to design centers or structured skill-development programs. He said that today, schemes like Samarth provide skill training and support to workers. The Minister said that the handloom sector has become an important source of self-employment. He said that more than 10 lakh people from the SC and ST communities are engaged in this sector, contributing to both economic growth and social empowerment.