Yarn Supply Scheme (YSS)
Yarn Supply Scheme (YSS)
Yarn is the major raw material used by the handloom sector. Being dependent on yarn, manufacturers/traders and handloom weavers are facing shortage with escalating prices. The National Handloom Development Corporation Limited (NHDC) was set up to address the problems. The Yarn Supply Scheme (YSS) seeks to provide under-privileged handloom weavers with subsidized yarn and help them compete with the mill and power loom sectors.
Mill Gate Price Scheme
Mill Gate Price Scheme (MGPS) has been in effect since 1992 to make yarn available to handloom weavers by reimbursing transportation charges to depot operating agencies. Freight is reimbursed and depot operating charges at 2% is given to depot operating agencies. Funds for YSS are released to NHDC as per proposals initiated and utilization of previously released funds.
The Mill Gate Price Scheme (MGPS) has been continued along with a subsidy of 10% and modifications. This scheme is called the Yarn Supply Scheme (YSS) with a total outlay of Rs.433 crores. Mill Gate Price is the price at which the yarn is procured from registered license holders of Silk Exchange. Cotton hank yarn is obtained from the mills producing hank yarn under the Hank Yarn Packing Obligation as recorded by the Textile Commissioner. This helps remove monopoly and cartels. NHDC procures yarn in huge quantities and thus the MGP is lesser than that procured by wholesalers at the mill gate.
10% subsidy under YSS
As handloom products are inherently expensive due to long lead time in weaving due to complex and exquisite designs, and lower productivity as compared to powerloom, it is essential to provide explicit subsidy on hank yarn. 10% subsidy is applicable on cotton yarn and domestic silk; subject to quantity caps. Now, wool for individual weavers and weavers’ cooperative societies is also subjected to 10% subsidy.
NHDC Depots
NHDC has warehouses or depots at major places to stock varieties of yarn to reduce delivery time. This way, smaller quantities can then be supplied to individual units and weavers in lesser time.
A person is appointed for each major cluster to collect the indents from the handloom weavers and to coordinate with them. This indent is then submitted to the nearest NHDC warehouse. At the NHDC depot, individual invoices are created so that yarn is distributed to the respective handloom weaver and the payment collected. A service charge of 1.5% to 2% is charged for depot operating charges.
Mobile Vans
GSP-enabled vehicles are used for transporting the yarn. This GPS information is integrated with the e-Dhaga app so that all associated agencies are able to keep track. Yarn depots are opened in the Handloom Clusters. The mobile vans travel through the villages for about 20 days a month. They serve as a collection point for the handloom products as well as the supply source for the yarn.
Eligibility for Yarn Supply Scheme (YSS)
- All Handloom Development Centres
- Handloom Organizations, including weavers’ cooperative societies at the National/State/Regional/Primary levels
- Handloom manufacturers registered with Export Promotion Council under the Ministry of Textiles or exporting directly
- Individual Weaver entrepreneurs
- Member of approved Handloom associations
- Producers who are within the handloom clusters sanctioned under Mega Clusters or Integrated Handloom Textile Parks
- Any other agency approved by the Office of the Development Commission (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles
These eligible agencies place their indents on NHDC. A tie-up between NHDC and suppliers is arrived at. A yarn-passbook is given to first-user agencies to avail the 10% subsidy. This can be applied for on the NHDC website. (https://www.nhdc.org.in/). All types of yarn are supplied such as polyester, acrylic, rayon, jute, blended yarn and zari. But all of them are not eligible for a 10% subsidy. The procedure of advance payment to precede indenting and supply of yarn (15 to 45 days) is waived for individual weavers and primary weavers’ societies. National Handloom Development Corporation (NHDC) has open distribution centres to introduce cash sales of yarns to them.
