Handloom Mark
Handloom Textiles constitute a timeless facet of the rich cultural Heritage of India. As an economic activity, the handloom sector occupies a place second only to agriculture in providing livelihood to the people. It is estimated that handloom industry provides employment to 65 lakh workforce directly and indirectly and there are about 35 lakh looms spread all over India.
The production of handloom fabrics is estimated to be approximately 6947 million sq. mtrs. during 2007-08 and the contribution of handloom to the total cloth/textile production, comprising Handloom, Mill and Powerloom sectors during the year 2007-08 is estimated to be about 16%.
For detailed information about Handloom Mark in Tamil : http://www.handloommark.gov.in/About-Scheme/Handloom-Mark-Scheme-Tamil.pdf
Online Application for Handloom Mark Registration: http://www.handloommark.gov.in/handloommarkregistration.aspx
Fees structure of Hanloom Mark Registration : http://www.handloommark.gov.in/Fees/Registartion-Fee.pdf
05-August-2015 17:08 IST
PM to launch First National Handloom Day on 7th August, 2015
PM to present Sant Kabir Awards and National Awards for handloom weavers
The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will launch the first National Handloom Day on 7th August, 2015, at a national level function in Chennai. The program is being held in the prestigious Centenary hall of Madras University. The date August 7 has been chosen due to its special significance in India`s history; it was on this day that the Swadeshi Movement was launched in 1905. The formal proclamation of Swadeshi Movement was made on August 7, 1905 in a massive meeting in the Calcutta Town hall. The movement involved revival of domestic products and production processes. The Government of India has declared August 7 as National Handloom Day every year, in memory of this.
On the occasion of the first National Handloom Day, the Prime Minister will confer the Sant Kabir awards and National awards for the years 2012, 2013 and 2014 to distinguished handloom personalities. The observance of National Handloom Day and honouring of handloom weavers will not only provide an impetus to the handloom industry of India but would also serve to promote handloom as a genuine international product of good quality.
The Prime Minister will also launch ‘India Handloom’ Brand. An exhibition showcasing master creations of the awardees is also being inaugurated on the occasion in the adjacent senate building of Madras University.
Weaving section at the Weavers’ service Centre, Chennai.
The Handloom Day will be celebrated all over the country in cooperation with state governments.
Background
India has one of the finest textile traditions in the world. The handloom industry of India is as old as our civilisation itself and boasts of a lot of living traditions to this day. Handloom weaving is one of the largest economic activities after agriculture, providing direct and indirect employment to more than 43 lakh weavers and allied workers. The sector contributes to nearly 15% of the cloth production in the country and also contributes to the country’s export earnings. 95% of the world’s hand woven fabric comes from India.
The handloom forms a precious part of our generational legacy and exemplifies the richness and diversity of our country and the artistry of our weavers. The tradition of weaving by hand is a part of the country’s cultural ethos. The handloom sector has a unique place in our economy. It has been sustained by transferring skills from one generation to another. The strength of the sector lies in its uniqueness, flexibility of production, openness to innovations, adaptability to supplier’s requirements and the wealth of its tradition.
The Government of India, since independence, has been following a policy of promoting and encouraging the handloom sector through a number of programmes and schemes. Due to various policy initiatives and scheme interventions like cluster approach, aggressive marketing initiative and social welfare measures, the handloom sector has shown positive growth and the income level of weavers has improved.
National Awards
Every year up to 20 national awards and 20 national merit certificates are given to outstanding handloom weavers. The national award consists of a certificate, angavastram, copper plaque and cash award of one lakh rupees. National merit certificate consists of certificate and cash award of Rs. 50,000. 25 weavers were conferred National award for the year 2011 by the Hon’ble President of India in a function held on 1/7/2014 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
Sant Kabir Award
This award is being conferred from 2009 onwards to outstanding handloom weavers who have made valuable contribution in keeping alive the handloom heritage and also for their dedication in building up linkages between the past, present and the future through dissemination of knowledge on traditional skills and designs. Each award consists of one mounted gold coin, tamrapatra, one shawl and a citation. In addition, financial assistance to the extent of Rs. 6.00 lakh is also given to each Sant Kabir awardee to innovate and create ten new products of high level of excellence. Two weavers have been conferred Sant Kabir award by the Hon’ble President of India in a function held on 1/7/2014 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
DJM
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=124397
http://pmindia.gov.in/en/news_updates/pm-attends-first-national-handloom-day-celebrations/
PM attends first National Handloom Day celebrations
07 Aug, 2015
Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today said handlooms can be a tool to fight poverty, just as swadeshi was a tool in the struggle for freedom. He said Khadi and handloom products provide the same warmth that mother’s love provides.
He was speaking at the celebrations of the first National Handloom Day in Chennai.
The Prime Minister emphasized that India, whose handicrafts were once in demand across all continents, had not been able to market its handloom products well in recent times. He said that with the world becoming progressively more aware about the environment and holistic healthcare, there is a need to highlight the eco-friendly aspects of handloom products.
The Prime Minister recalled his appeal on the radio programme “Mann Ki Baat” in October last year, for all households to keep at least one Khadi product at home. He said that he had been informed that Khadi sales have risen by 60 percent since then. He said a similar effort now has to be made for handloom products.
On an emotional note, the Prime Minister said that the entire family of a weaver is involved in the creation of a product such as a saree. He said the family makes the saree just as a mother brings up a daughter – and once it is ready, the family bids it farewell, the way a bride is bid farewell after the wedding.
The Prime Minister launched the India Handloom Brand. He also presented the Sant Kabir Awards and National Awards.
The Governor of Tamil Nadu Dr. K. Rosaiah, Union MoS (I/c) for Textiles Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Union MoS (Road Transport & Highways and Shipping) Shri Pon Radhakrishnan and the Minister of Finance and PWD for Tamil Nadu Shri O Paneerselvam were present on the occasion.
