Somireddy faulted for not keeping word

Nellore: Pointing finger at Agriculture Minister Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy, who assured formation a Corporation for the weavers three months ago, leaders and artisans of ‘Chenetha Ikya Vedika’ staged a peaceful protest at Gandhi Statue in the city here on Tuesday. They raised slogans against the state government for not supporting them. 

Speaking to the media, Chenetha Ikya Vedika district convener B Balaji said that as many as 4 lakh handloom workers in 224 villages of 46 mandals in the district and alleged that the Agriculture Minister had failed to implement his promise of setting up Corporation for weavers within three months.

Chenetha Ikya Vedika is going to announce its plan of action to mount pressure on the state government to form the Corporation, said Ikya Vedika convener. He stressed on the need of distributing handloom identity cards and pensions to the aged weavers.

“Still, the government had not prepared any plans to support the handloom weavers across the state. Handloom sector has been facing difficulties due to mechanisation in the sector. Many handloom weavers have committed suicides failing to clear their debts,” said Balaji.

He demanded that the state government should set up Chenetha Corporation with a budget of Rs 1,000 crore in the state and also Neta bazaars in every district headquarters in the state for supporting the workmen. Balaji asked the government to provide raw materials, colours, silk and also zari items at subsidised rates to the weavers.

Chenetha Ikya Vedika district convener also said that government has to provide Rs 2 lakh loan to every weaver without counter guarantee. “Government has to relax the norms to extend the age limit up to 75 years for eligibility under Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana.

Compensation of Rs 2 lakh has to be paid to the bereaved family members of weavers, who committed suicides,’ said the district convener.  Chenetha Ikya Vedika leaders A Suresh, Ramanadham Rajasekhar, Vijayalakshmi, Nageswar Rao and others were present. Further, the BJP leaders organised a human chain demanding support to the weavers by displaying national flags.