KTR promises waiver of Rs 40 cr loans to handloom weavers in Telangana

​Wanaparthy: Promising to waive Rs 40 crore loans to individual handloom workers and weavers, Minister for Municipal Administration K Taraka Rama Rao asserted that the State government is giving highest priority to the welfare of handloom weaver.

Taking part in the launch of various development works in Wanaparthy district, Rama Rao said the government had promised to waive the individual loans of weavers. He further said he would soon request Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao to wave the loans taken by the Handloom Associations. 

“Earlier, the government had already waived Rs 20 crore of individual loans of handloom workers between 2014 and 2017 in the State. However, as per the request by the weavers associations and handloom workers who have sought waiver of all individual loans from the year 2010 onwards, we have taken the request positively and the Chief Minister has agreed to waive Rs 40 crore of individual loans across the State,” said KTR. 

During his whirlwind tour of Wanaparthy district on Friday, the Minister took part in the launch of various welfare and development works in Wanaparthy and Kothakota mandals. KTR visited the weavers’ colony in Kothakota mandal and visited some of the houses of the weavers and enquired about the conditions of the weavers families. 

KTR visited the houses of Satyanarayan and Rajya Laxmi and enquired about the cost of weaving sarees and their income from the weaving. He also interacted with them to know their problems. Later he visited the dying unit in the colony and asked them about the dying process of the textile fabric. 

Later while taking at a meeting organised at the colony the Minster said that until now the government had waived only the individual loans of the weavers and handloom workers. However, very soon waiving of the loans taken by the weaver and handloom associations. “As the District Collector has said that the Kothakota Silk Saris have got a good reputation and prominence, we have decided to also waive the loans of Kothakota Handloom Weavers Association and encourage them,” said the Minister. 

Later, the Minister directed the District Collector to send proposals for providing the basic amenities to weavers and handloom workers of Kothakota, Gadwal and Narayanpeta. He also suggested that the Collector set up Tesko showrooms to help the weavers market either in Kothakota or Wanaparthy. 

He said the Collector should take the initiative to help the weavers to market their products through online e-marketing portals like Amazon and avoid the middle men and brokers. He promised to build a community hall for the Kothakota weavers and said the government will launch a buy back system through ‘Tesko Show rooms’ and help the weavers gain handsome profits for their hard work.