Handloom saris, dhotis through FP shops

Vijayawada: AP transport minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu said on Monday the state government is contemplating to form Handloom Welfare Board and distribute sarees and handloom products through ‘Chandranna Kanuka’ scheme by fair price shops in the state.

He said the government is taking measures to bail out the hand loom workers and industry by taking various measures. He was the chief guest for the National handloom Day celebration organised at Tummalapalli Kalakshetram here on Monday.
Atchannaidu said that handloom garments were the nation’s heritage and wealth and we must protect the handloom workers. He said that he knew the problems of handloom workers because he hails from a rural background and added that the Chief Minister was keen on the welfare of handloom workers.

The government had sanctioned Rs. 100 crore for handloom workers loan waiver and had released Rs. 75 crores, and still few of them have to receive it for which Apco assistant directors were ordered to look into it, he added.

The minister said about 34 handloom clusters were working under the central government and representation was made for establishing additional 70 clusters in the state. There are 2.50 lakh hand loom families and out of them 1.25 lakh families were member of hand loom societies.

Apco would be strengthening and by December handloom saris and dhotis would be distributed through fair price shops, he said. Apco garment division secretary I Srinivas said that Apco would strive with commitment for the welfare of handloom workers.

Apco chairman G Srinu said the central government should cancel 5 per cent GST on handloom products for the welfare of the workers. MP Chinna Krishnappa expressed that handloom products would incur 30 percent more expenditure compared to machine made products and the government has to take the responsibility to protect the handloom profession.

Earlier the minister flagged off and participated in the Mega Handloom walk which started from Sub-Collector office to Tummalapalli Kalakshetram. Later the minister spoke to the media persons and said after agriculture, handloom was the second biggest sector in the country and many are migrating to other sectors and to stop them the PM and AP CM had

implemented various welfare schemes for handloom workers. Further the government had ordered all government employees to wear handloom garments on every Monday to encourage and stand by the handloom workers, he added.