The Advisory Committee on Handloom Reservation Act had put forward recommendation to amend the definition of handloom before the textile ministry. The Textile Ministry on Thursday said that the existing definition of ‘handloom’ to be retained.

It clarified that no change is contemplated after a panel set up for the purpose recommended. ‘Handloom’ which has been defined as 'any loom other than power loom' under the Handlooms (Reservation of Articles for Production) Act, 1985.

The official statement by the Ministry said that various aspects pertaining to amendment of the definition and other incidental issues have recently been studied in greater detail by a sub-committee of the Advisory Committee. The sub-committee submitted its report on October 29, 2013 to the Government.

The sub-committee has recommended that in the process of weaving, the weaver does not use power and hence the definition of handloom need not be changed and it should remain in the purest form. The Ministry has accepted the report of the sub-committee and no amendment in the Handloom Reservation Act to change the definition of handloom is contemplated.

To improve the productivity and reduce the manual labour on loom, the Advisory Committee on Handloom Reservation Act, in its meeting held on August 10, 2012 had recommended the modifications in the definition of handloom. It had said “handloom” means any loom, other than power loom and includes any hybrid loom on which at least one process for weaving requires manual intervention or human energy for production.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour also supported the amendment in definition of handloom in various meetings.

As per handloom census 2009-10, the handloom sector employs 43.3 lakh weavers and allied workers, although the number was 65 lakh in 1995-96.