In order to identify genuine authentic handloom , one can look forward the following labels attached with the products.

• Handloom Mark
• India Handloom Brand

Handloom weaving is a labour intensive occupation spread throughout the country, mostly in villages. The handloom sector employs over 43 lakh persons in weaving and allied activities (as per handlooms census of India 2009-10). The main raw material used by this sector is yarn, which is being produced by spinning mills. The yarn trade was controlled by the traders and most of the handloom weavers were dependent on the traders for their yarn requirement. This had resulted in unchecked escalation in yarn prices and shortage in its availability. NHDC ensures the supply of raw material to handloom sector directly from the manufacturers.

National Handloom Development Corporation Limited (NHDC) was set up in February 1983 as a Public Sector Undertaking by the Government of India as an autonomous body under the Companies Act 1956 in pursuance of the imperative need for a National Level Agency to assist the speedy development of the Handloom Sector by coordinating all action covering the procurement and supply of inputs at reasonable prices augmenting the marketing efforts of State upgrading the technology in the Handloom Sector & improving productivity.

RAW MATERIAL SUPPLY SCHEME (RMSS) is flagship scheme of govt. of India under which eligible handloom agencies are getting all types of Yarn on Mill Gate Price (means yarn purchase from manufacturers is provided to handloom weavers on the same rate under scheme.

The benefits would be available to the following:

• I. Individual weavers.
• II. Agencies in which weavers are members i.e. Self Help Groups (SHGs), Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) and Cooperative Societies.
• III. Handloom Producer Company.
• IV. Weavers Entrepreneurs: Entrepreneur, who is involved in actual weaving activity along with marketing and other activities & owns Handlooms in his/her premises, will be eligible weaver entrepreneur. Number of Handlooms owned and functional in the premises of weaver entrepreneur will be counted for the raw material subsidy component purpose.

The eligible agencies will place their indents on NHDC under the scheme. NHDC will tie-up the supplies from the suppliers as per the demand specifications. The user agencies should use the yarn under the scheme for captive production of cloth on handloom or for supply to their member societies/weavers directly enrolled under them by passing on the benefits of the scheme to them in full.

Transport Subsidy Component: Freight reimbursement for transportation of yarn (All types)

Price Subsidy Component: 15% Price Subsidy on Yarn (through DBT to linked bank account) with quantitative restrictions.

15% price subsidy will be available on cotton hank yarn, domestic silk, woollen and linen yarn and blended yarn of natural fibres with quantity restrictions.

The following charges will be provided towards freight reimbursement:

(% of value of yarn supplied)

*  NER States (8Nos) & Hilly areas (UT of J&K, UT of Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand)

For the purposes of price subsidy, the maximum quantity of yarn to be supplied to a weaver will be as below:

Under RMSS scheme all types of yarn like cotton, silk, wool, polyester, acrylic, rayon, zari, jute and blended yarn is supplied to the eligible handloom agencies. Though the 15% yarn subsidy is applicable on cotton hunk yarn, domestic silk, woollen,lenien and blended yarn of natural fibres.

In order to provide services NHDC is operating 7 regional Offices, 29 branch offices.

In order to get 15% benefits first user agencies will have to apply for a Yarn passbook on specified format. The forms can be downloaded from NHDC website.

After getting the passbook beneficiary agencies will place the order along with Yarn passbook.