Comprehensive Package for setting up of Handloom Development Centers and Quality Dyeing Units
The Government of India has been implementing a large number of schemes for the benefit and welfare of handloom weavers who constitute a very important segment of the national economy. While these schemes did make a significant impact on maintaining the traditional skill and the level of employment in handloom sector, the coverage under the schemes was limited to a small percentage of handloom weavers. It was, therefore, necessary to introduce a scheme which ensured extensive coverage of the handloom weavers in a comprehensive manner and took care of their major problems in the areas of inputs supply, production, design, development, training and marketing.

This is the genesis of the scheme for setting up of Handloom Development Centers. The scheme of setting up Handloom Development Centers (HDCs) is a central plan scheme designed to take care of the basic problems of the handloom weavers in a coordinated, integrated and comprehensive manner.

The main objectives of the scheme are :

1. Bringing 30 lakh weavers with 7.5 lakhs looms in the cooperative fold so that the benefits of the various schemes accruing to the handloom cooperatives are available to them.

2. Arranging the supply of essential inputs including yarn and dyes and chemicals to the weavers covered by the HDC's.

3. Tying-up the marketing of the cloth produced by members of the HDC in the domestic market as well as for exports. 

4. Providing training to the weavers in improved dyeing practices and also in new designs.

5. Providing additional employment to the handloom weavers, keeping in view the fact that there may be a substantial reduction in employment in the handloom sector due to the phasing out of the Janata Cloth Scheme.