The Government has clarified that there is no dedicated survey to count women engaged in home-based textile work. Instead, existing surveys like PLFS and sector-specific censuses are used to track participation. Alongside this, several schemes and labour reforms are in place to support women workers in the textile sector.
According to information released by PIB Delhi on 27 March 2026 at 3:00 PM, the government conducts multiple surveys and censuses across sectors, including textiles. These include the Fourth All India Handloom Census (2019–20), the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), and the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises, which provide estimates on socio-economic indicators.
As per PLFS data, the female Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) stands at 31.7% at the national level. However, the Ministry of Textiles has not conducted a separate survey specifically to enumerate women engaged in home-based and piece-rate textile work.
The Code on Social Security, 2020, under Chapter IV (ESIC), applies to establishments employing ten or more persons, excluding seasonal factories, and provides access to ESI benefits. The government has also adopted a broader approach combining industrial development, cluster strengthening, and skill development to support the textile and traditional sectors, with a focus on improving women’s participation, productivity, and access to employment.
Under the PM MITRA initiative, mega textile parks are being developed with facilities such as creches, women’s hostels, skill centres, safe transport, CCTV surveillance, security, and occupational health and safety infrastructure. These parks are intended to support higher female workforce participation and generate formal employment opportunities.
The SAMARTH scheme has trained 5.3 lakh beneficiaries, with women accounting for 88% of the total, particularly in areas such as garmenting, embroidery, knitwear, and handicrafts.
In the handloom sector, the Raw Material Supply Scheme (RMSS) provides transport subsidies for yarns, a 15% price subsidy, and depot operating expenses. Women handloom weavers are included as beneficiaries through individual participation as well as through Self Help Groups (SHGs), Joint Liability Groups (JLGs), cooperative societies, Handloom Producer Companies, and weaver entrepreneurs.
Additional provisions include the #Srijan initiative, launched in partnership with the Ministry of Textiles, the Office of the Development Commissioner for Handlooms, and UN Women. The programme aims to support leadership and entrepreneurship among women artisans, targeting 1,000 women weavers within a year. The first workshop was held in Varanasi on 18 October 2025.
Women weavers are eligible for 100% subsidy for work shed construction under the National Handloom Development Programme, and more than 73% of beneficiaries under the Small Cluster Development Programme are women. The Handloom Weaver MUDRA Portal, developed with Punjab National Bank, facilitates centralized online disbursement of financial assistance, including margin money, interest subvention, and credit guarantee fees.
Special marketing initiatives include dedicated slots such as the Women Day slot at Dilli Haat from 1–15 March 2026 and the PanchLakhiya weaver didi slot from 16–31 August 2025. Additionally, 30 women-led Producer Companies and 15 women-led startups have been established across the country. The Kamladevi Chattopadhyay Award, instituted in 2016, has been awarded to 14 women weavers so far.
In the silk sector, the sericulture industry provides employment to approximately 97.3 lakh persons, with women accounting for 55–60% of the workforce. The Central Silk Board has introduced women-friendly technologies, including motorised reeling and spinning machines, along with financial support and promotion of women SHGs.
A broader framework for worker protection has been introduced through the implementation of the four Labour Codes. These aim to improve welfare measures, including maternity benefits, working conditions, occupational safety, and participation of women workers across sectors, including textiles. Section 45 of the Code on Social Security, 2020, also provides for extending ESIC benefits to unorganised workers, gig workers, and platform workers.
State-wise data from PLFS 2023–24 shows variation in female LFPR across regions, with Sikkim (56.9%) and Himachal Pradesh (56.2%) among the highest, while Delhi (14.5%) and Lakshadweep (13.0%) report lower participation rates. Maharashtra records a female LFPR of 32.0%.
This information was provided by THE MINISTER FOR TEXTILES SHRI GIRIRAJ SINGH in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on 20th March 2026.