Integrated Handloom Cluster Development Program
Scheme of Office of the Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India, New Delhi.

872 SHGs formed, covering 10755 weavers.         Wage enhancement of weavers by Rs 300 per month at Varanasi and Bhagalpur cluster.         342 awareness camps organized involving 40800 weavers from the cluster pockets.         4800 weavers registered under Insurance Scheme.         Credit linkages fro 642 weavers with banks –Rs 53.75 lakhs credit disbursed         47 dyers workshop organized with participant of 1300 dyers leading to improvement in dyeing technology         59 exhibition and 50 buyer seller meets organized with total sales realization of Rs 6.64 crores.         25 export procedure training program organized with active involvement of Indian Institute of Foreign Trade and Handloom Export Promotion council New Delhi         800 new designs and product introduced         26 managerial Training organized for office bearers of consortium and local institutions         Establishment of 34 yarn Depot, total indent received by NHDC =Rs 84 lakhs         Showroom and display Arrangements -2         Product Catalogue developed by 20 cluster         Product inquiries received from 242 buyers and exporters, retailers and buying houses         Traditional looms -1580 looms upgraded by replacement of reels and heads         CFC & Dye houses –Proposal for 18 CFC and 16 Dye houses cleared by ministry as common facility center fro the weavers

VISION OF NATIONAL RESOURCE AGENCY

Synergised & consistent support to the Handloom Weavers of 20 selected Handloom clusters across the country through focused yet flexible & holistic Approach.

ROLE OF NRA

  • Facilitate, strengthen and provide support services (Training of Cluster Development Executives) for augmenting cluster development initiatives identified by the Office of Development Commissioner (Handlooms).
  • Provide effective monitoring and mentoring services for the development of 20 pilot Handloom clusters at different locations.
  • Initiate an interactive forum for Cluster Development Executives (CDEs), Associations, Business Development Service (BDS) providers, others stakeholders, implementing agencies and support organizations by means of a news letter, brochure etc;
  • Carry out documentation of ‘best practices’ in clusters that can foster demonstration effect in others.
  • Review quarterly the progress, identify the support to be provided, prepare time frame of actions and seek necessary approval from the O/o DC (HL) wherever necessary.
  • Convene period meetings in close co-ordination with the Apex committee at National level to appraise progress, seek approval and inputs if need be for technical, design development and other such issues deemed fit.
  • Sensitize policy makers about the requirements of Handloom clusters in close co-ordination with the Apex Committee at the National Level.
  • On behalf of DC (HL) disburse the project grant with necessary approval of the Apex Committee & evolve suitable guideline towards the same in close co-ordination with Office of Development Commissioner (Handloom)
  • Ensure submission of reports, audited statement, action plan from the Implementing Agencies from time to time and submit the same back to Apex Committee for necessary perusal.
  • Carry out any other roles as part of IHCDS as assigned by DC (HL) from time to time.
Objectives:

EDI as a National Resource Agency [NRA] for co-ordination, monitoring and hand holding support of cluster development interventions at 20 locations in the country has the following objectives:

  • Co-ordinate cluster development activities all across the 20 clusters identified by the ministry at National Level.
  • Provide monitoring and support services to ensure holistic development of Handloom clusters.
  • Facilitate cluster activity network by dissemination of information on various aspects of cluster development.
  • Establish a documentation centre in order to facilitate mutual learning. The documentation of ‘best practices’ in one cluster can foster demonstration effect in others.
  • Provide an interactive forum for CDEs, Govt. organisations, implementing agencies by organizing meetings/ workshops whenever required.
  • Enable clusters to take advantage of globalization by providing customized intervention in critical business areas.
  • Sensitize policy makers about the requirements of Handloom clusters.


Approach:

The Agency with a Secretariat is being managed by an interdisciplinary team of 8-9 professionals having expertise in diverse disciplines related to cluster development. Senior experts/ consultants (from the field) in the areas of marketing, technology, export, design and other specialised discipline, to take care of the specific requirements of Handloom clusters. The centre has been involved in developing data bank of BDS providers to enable the Implementing Agencies source quality business development services. The Centre has adopted a hub and spoke strategy where in its regional centres serve the needs of clusters at the local level whereas high end expertise are being provided by the head office. Major research and documentation activities of the activities being supported by the Agency are being carried out at its head quarter in Ahmedabad.

As mentioned earlier, interventions for cluster development call for well trained change and development agents. Therefore, the Agency initially focussed on capacity building of CDEs from each target cluster. To accomplish this, the Centre organised CDE programme. This training programme was organised in three phases. The first phase enabled the participants in understanding a cluster and its internal dynamics. Inputs were given on how to do diagnostic study, cluster mapping, structure analysis, value chain analysis, SWOT analysis etc. In the second phase the CDE went back to their respective clusters to carry out diagnostic study (of the clusters) by meeting entrepreneurs, members of the local associations, support institutions, BDS providers and opinion leaders. They have prepared a diagnostic study report. In the third phase of the programme, CDE made presentation on the findings of the cluster diagnostic study. Accordingly the cluster vision and action plan have been developed with active participation of the major cluster stakeholders. The CDEs have also been trained on how to do resource mobilisation, trust building, networking, capacity building etc. This also helps them to understand the techniques of carrying out evaluation and monitoring function.

The faculty members of the Agency have been making on site visits to the clusters to understand the prevalent situation, monitor progress of the cluster development programmes and provide hand holding support to ensure holistic development of the clusters. Outside technical experts/ consultants have also been involved in the activities of the centre. Efforts are to screen all technological interventions with visit once in a quarter to the clusters.

Periodic meeting/ workshops have been been organised where CDEs and cluster stakeholders have been invited to share their experiences and expectations. This has enabled understanding the problem areas and devising a mechanism to sort out the same. This has also served as a platform for mutual learning and understanding of the best practices of others.

Functions:
  1. Training workshop and orientation:

    Training programme for CDEs and the officials of the department have been organized. Apart from providing classroom inputs, the CDEs have been sent to their respective clusters to carry out the diagnostic study. Cluster vision, strategy and action plan have been prepared which is being implemented by the Implemented by the Implementing Agencies with due ratification by the O/o Development Commissioner – Handlooms and the Apex Committee under the Chairmanship of Secretary [Textiles]. Proper monitoring and follow-up support is being provided to ensure that the activities progress as per the sanctioned plan. Periodic meeting/ workshops are being organised where CDEs and cluster stakeholders are being invited to share experiences and expectations. This has enabled in understanding the specific problems and thereby devising a strategy to tackle the issue. The platform also serve as an exchange mechanism for mutual learning and understanding the best practices of others.

  2. Business Development Service Providers (BDS):

    A complete data bank of quality BDS has been developed. This data bank incorporates information on names, addresses and types of services provided by these BDS, their pricing pattern, nature of BDS etc. Senior experts/ consultants, public or private, have been covered under this data bank.

  3. Documentation:

    A separate space has been created for documentation related activities. Books, reports on clusters – both national as well and international experiences, Articles from CDEs, BDS Providers, and policy makers have been maintained. Moreover, information on changes in government policies having repercussion on the functioning of the handloom units in the cluster has been disseminated to the CDEs & IAs through this centre.
    Research on various facets of Handloom cluster development will be carried out periodically and reports will be developed under the aegis of this Centre.

  4. Communication and Monitoring:

    For faster dissemination of information between the Centre and CDEs, proper monitoring is being carried out with the help of faculty members of EDI including the three technical resource persons with around three decades experience in the sector. It has helped in

  5. Website up gradation:

    A website www.edi-handlooms.org has been prepared with requisite details with hyperlink to Ministry of Textile (MoT) portal www.texmin.nic.in . The CDEs upload this site for updating their progress which is accessed by NRA and the O/o Development Commissioner – Handlooms.

  6. Secretariat:

    In order to accomplish the above, a Secretariat has been established in the Centre. It is co-ordinating cluster Development activities of the Implementing Agencies.