Census of Handicrafts/Handloom

The census of handicrafts artisans is in progress.  However as per the result made available on different parameters pertaining to handicraft sector based on enumeration undertaken till now, it is estimated that the number of artisans in the country is 68.86 lakhs.

            .  To improve the skill of workers engaged in handicrafts including Stone Carving and Metal Carving industry in Odisha, the Government is implementing the scheme of Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojana (AHVY), Human Resource Development and Design and Technological Upgradation.

            Through Market Support Services Scheme of the Government, artisans are encouraged to participate in Gandhi Shilp Bazars, Craft Bazars, Sourcing Shows and Exhibitions etc. Besides Government have set up 21 Urban Haat on the pattern of Dilli Haat in big towns/metropolitan cities to provide direct marketing facilities to handicraft artisans/handloom weavers.

            Moreover, under the component of International Marketing of the Marketing Support Services Scheme, artisans are deputed for participation in cultural exchange programme/craft exchange programme in international events/exhibitions etc.

                        The number of male and females handicraft  artisans in the country including of Kumhar (Potter) of Orissa is estimated as 30.25 lakhs and 38.61 lakhs respectively.  However the State-wise figures shall only be known once the census of handicrafts artisans is completed.

            As per Handloom Census of India (2009-10), there are 29,08,800 Adult Handloom Weavers across the country.  Of this, 22,03,038 are Female weavers.  State-wise details is given in the annexure.

            Percentage of full time women weavers is more than 65% in most of the States except North Eastern States, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Uttrakhand.  State-wise details of women weavers, who are full time, are also given in the same annexure.

                        The steps proposed to be taken by the Government to promote handicrafts sector during the Twelfth Five Year Plan include: implementation of schemes of Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojana (AHVY), Design & Technology Up-gradation Scheme, Marketing Support Services Scheme, Research & Development Scheme, Human Resource Development Scheme and Handicraft Artisans Comprehensive Welfare Scheme. Two New scheme namely ‘special scheme for North Eastern Region’  and Infrastructure  Development has been proposed under 12^th Five Year Plan.

Annexure

Annexure referred to in reply to part (c) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.7290 to be answered on 21.5.2012.

Sl. No.	Names of State(s)	Total Male	Total Female	Total	Full time Female weavers	Full time Female weavers as a %age of total female weavers
1.	Andhra Pradesh	1,28,728	52,760	1,81,508	46384	87.92
2.	Arunachal Pradesh	210	25,662	25,872	9363	36.49
3.	Assam	12,765	13,88,653	14,01,418	686457	49.43
4.	Bihar	9,280	2,473	11,753	1783	72.10
5.	Chhattisgarh	2,211	218	2,429	212	97.25
6.	Delhi	1,338	132	1,470	115	87.12
7.	Gujarat	3,218	970	4,188	726	74.85
8.	Haryana	5,697	27	5,724	27	100.00
9.	Himachal Pradesh	2,004	4,572	6,576	848	18.55
10.	Jammu & Kashmir	5,223	2,126	7,349	319	15.00
11.	Jharkhand	8,016	1,955	9,971	1807	92.43
12.	Karnataka	31,149	8,783	39,932	8303	94.53
13.	Kerala	3,354	7,820	11,174	7749	99.09
14.	Madhya Pradesh	5,451	1,834	7,285	1593	86.86
15.	Maharashtra	1,689	258	1,947	250	96.90
16.	Manipur	1,496	1,99,111	2,00,607	169310	85.03
17.	Meghalaya	83	12,534	12,617	7015	55.97
18.	Mizoram	1,767	38,513	40,280	6095	15.83
19.	Nagaland	1,353	44,522	45,875	21`351	47.96
20.	Orissa	41,466	7,556	49,022	5930	78.48
21.	Pondicherry	1,056	894	1,950	791	88.48
22.	Punjab	584	342	926	289	84.50
23.	Rajasthan	4,120	4,362	8,482	3533	80.99
24.	Sikkim	14	527	541	264	50.09
25.	Tamilnadu	1,36,352	92,016	2,28,368	77477	84.20
26.	Tripura	1,385	1,28,791	1,30,176	6489	5.04
27.	Uttar Pradesh	91,213	25,409	1,16,622	21720	85.48
28.	Uttrakhand	4,120	2,101	6,221	1185	56.40
29.	West Bengal	2,00,400	1,48,117	3,48,517	1`23482	83.37
	ALL INDIA	7,05,762	22,03,038	29,08,800	1210867	54.96

Nos. of Adult Handloom weavers as per Handloom Census of India (2009-10)