A Sub-Committee has been constituted to examine the issue of change of definition of handloom. The sub-committee on the basis of representations of the stake holders recommended that in the process of weaving, the weaver does not use power and hence definition of handloom need not be changed and it should remain in the purest form. The textile ministry has accepted the report of the sub-committee.
The sub-committee constituted by the textile ministry did not have any representative from handloom or powerloom weavers to examine the issue of change of definition of handloom. However, the committee had discussed in detail all the aspects of this issue with handloom and powerloom weavers in different clusters of the country. 
The centre is implementing a number of developmental and welfare schemes to empower the handloom weavers such as Yarn supply/Mill Gate Price Scheme, National Handloom Development Programme, Handloom Weavers Comprehensive Welfare Scheme and Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS)-Handloom Mega Cluster.
This information was given by textile minister, Mr. Santosh Kumar Gangwar in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
