A place that registered a spate of suicides by weavers owing to livelihood crises less than a decade ago is now seeing a ray of hope as the State Government is all set to revive the sector with a series of schemes.
Instilling a new vigour to the ‘dying art’ of making handlooms, Minister for IT, Municipal Administration, Handloom & Textiles K. Taraka Rama Rao on Saturday launched the Thrift Fund Savings & Security Scheme (TFSSS) for handloom weavers in the State.
“My father who grew up listening to the click-clack sounds of handlooms in Dubbaka knows the hardships of weavers,” he said.
Minister for Power and SC Development G. Jagadish Reddy, who recollected the Telangana movement days said: This was a resolution taken when we fought against the then government for weaver’s suicides and hunger deaths. It is a good message to launch the scheme from Pochampally.
TFSSS, under ‘Nethannaku Cheyootha’ - is a package of four schemes aimed at addressing financial and social security concerns of weavers.
State share
Unlike schemes till now, savings under this do not require any admission to a society. For every 8% of wages contributed to thrift fund by the member - before the 10th of every month, the government will contribute 16%, Director of Handlooms & Textiles Shailaja Ramaiyer said.
Weavers, including all ancilliary handloom workers in winding, sizing, dyeing, warping and finishing, who are 18 years and above, can enrol for the scheme.
Two recurring deposit accounts would be opened for this purpose, RD one and two with a lock-in period of three years, she explained.
Yarn subsidy to weavers, which was 30%, is now hiked to 50%. The built-in wage conversion facilitates 35% of the subsidy as wages paid into the members’ accounts.
Under the buy-back facility, unsold products would be bought by the government, she said. Loan waiver for individual weavers and training inputs would also be given under it.
₹1,283 crore budget
Speaking at the event, Minister for Finance & Planning E. Rajender said the government has allotted a budget of ₹1,283 crore for the sector. “We will ensure that every penny is expended.”
Monday dressing
Mr. Rao addressing the cheering audience said he had requested all his employees to sport handloom clothing every Monday, as this would promote the sector.
Explaining the various initiatives taken up by the Ministry, he said a ‘Netha Bazaar’ for handlooms would be set up, on the lines of Shilparamam.
A mega textile park in Warangal will soon be ready, he added.
The Minster also told the weavers that the government is against GST to be imposed on the sector. He later handed over the first cheque of ₹5,57,706 to 266 weavers enrolled for TFSSS.
Forest & Environment and BC welfare Minister Jogu Ramanna,Yadadri MP Boora Narsaiah, Bhongir MLA Pyla Shekhar Reddy, District Collector Anita Ramachandran and district officials were present.
