Weavers body calls for Chalo Delhi on June 24

Himayatnagar: The Weavers Development Foundation (WDF), a body of handloom labourers, gave a call for 'Chalo Delhi' on June 24. This was stated at a round table conference organized by Weavers Development Foundation at the BC Sadhikaratha Bhavan, Hyderguda, to discuss the issues of handloom labourers in the state, on Wednesday.

Speaking at the conference, the president of the foundation Dasu Suresh alleged that State government has become indifferent towards the plight of handloom workers. About 350 weavers have committed suicides after the formation of the new state of Telangana due to the government apathy, he lamented.

Suresh alleged that the handloom community has not been given a proper representation in the legislature and nominated posts. While the TRS party formed the government with the help of Padmashali community, it ignored their interests as it did not nominate a single member from their community to nominated posts, he alleged.

He demanded the State government to extend the financial benefits through farmer welfare schemes to the weavers as well. The foundation would stage protests at the national level to highlight the problems faced by handloom workers of the state, he said.

The WDF would also file a petition in the National Human Rights Commission on the suicides of handloom workers, he said. He urged the handloom workers to participate in the protests to be held at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on June 24 in large numbers to highlight their issue at the national level.