Works yet to begin on clusters sanctioned for weavers

Anantapur: The central government had sanctioned three clusters at Puttaparthi, Dharmavaram and Uravakonda for handloom weavers nine months ago. It had sanctioned Rs 2 crore for each cluster but these clusters establishment are yet to take off, thanks to the lethargic attitude in this regard. The Puttaparthi cluster will benefit 220 weavers, Dharmavaram cluster 300 weavers and Uravakonda cluster 265 weavers.

The Department of Handlooms and Textiles had actually sent proposals for setting up 71 clusters but in the first phase only 3 clusters were sanctioned. The largest number of proposals went from Dharmavaram that is for 34 clusters, but the former was sanctioned only one cluster. Weavers in the district are an unhappy lot as the 3 clusters sanctioned nine months ago have not seen the light of the day.

The office of the Handlooms maintain that several hurdles had come in their way and had delayed the process. However, now efforts are being made to ground the clusters on a fast track basis. AP Handloom Workers state secretary Chalapathi has in a statement found fault with the central government for doing injustice to the district by sanctioning a pittance to the district.

Dharmavaram, the weavers’ town is given just one cluster, he lamented. He says that the 3 clusters do not provide employment to even 1,000 weavers. The government must clear all proposals sent to it and create work for 1 lakh weavers, he added.