Source: Ministry of Textiles via PIB (PRID-2157866) | Photo Credit: Internet
Clear Cut Livelihood Desk
New Delhi, UPDATED: Aug 19, 2025 05:43 IST
In a powerful recognition of India’s ageless craft culture, the Fourth All India Handloom Census (2019–20) counted exactly 26,73,891 handloom weavers and 8,48,621 allied workers, totaling over 35 lakh artisans nationwide. This vital data underscores the sector’s socio-economic role, particularly among women, rural communities, and micro-enterprises.
Photo Credit: Veerasudalai G
To uplift these artisans, the Ministry of Textiles has rolled out the National Handloom Development Programme and Raw Material Supply Scheme nationwide. These include support for upgraded looms, solar lighting for workshops, workshed construction, design and marketing assistance, Mudra loans, and social security measures, all of which are essential for sustaining livelihoods across urban and rural India.
Furthermore, the government launched a digital e-Pehchan card portal on 28 January 2025, enabling weavers to register, update their details, and download identity cards online. Already, over 15,000 additional artisans, who were missed by the original census, have obtained their Pehchan cards, marking a significant step toward inclusion and formal recognition.
This initiative marries tradition with technology, ensuring that grassroots artisans, often invisible in policy circles, gain secure identity, access to benefits, and visibility in India’s economy. One such artisan in Madhya Pradesh or Odisha now holds both craft and recognition.
With these schemes and digital identification mechanisms, we move closer to a Viksit Bharat where cultural livelihood meets social security.
