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Weavers fear losing their homes
The handloom weavers of Jogipet fear losing their houses where they have been living for the past three decades, thanks to the developmental initiative of the state government, which would affect their lives.
Jogipet (Medak): The handloom weavers of Jogipet fear losing their houses where they have been living for the past three decades, thanks to the developmental initiative of the state government, which would affect their lives. The handloom weavers of Jogipet Handloom Welfare Cooperative Society Limited, were given housing on the outskirts of Jogipet nagar panchayat when NT Rama Rao was the Chief Minister, during 1986-1987.
Houses for 50 families of weavers’ community, who worked in the workshop of the cooperative society in Jogipet, were constructed with three rooms and the colony was named Markandeya Colony. The houses were not given away for free. Under subsidy, the residents paid installments worth Rs 11,000. Even until today, the houses were not registered in their name, though they have been paying property taxes and have ration cards on those addresses.
Many of the families lost their livelihood and have migrated to Hyderabad in search of a better life. Having survived the harsher times, currently 25 families are still staying in that colony, working in the same workshop. The women in the cooperative society are making something between Rs 2000 and Rs 3000 per month, while the men get slightly higher wages.
In August 2015, the state government started construction of polytechnic college beside their colony. Two buildings have almost been completed within a year’s time and now the government is looking to build a hostel and other structures by demolishing the colony. MLA Babu Mohan has himself asked them to vacate the colony to facilitate development of the constituency. “Trust me, I am there. I will take care of you,” he told the residents of the colony, when he went there to participate in Haritha Haram at the polytechnic college premises.
He told them that they would not get justice if they went to opposition parties and complained. The residents are now worried and are requesting the MLA to first build double bedroom houses for them before leaving the present palce. “We survived without electricity in those houses by using hurricane lamps. Still there are no roads and there is fear of snakes all the time. But we still live there. How can they ask us to get out?” said Sakkubai, who is a resident of the colony, who still works for the cooperative society. According to the weavers in the workshop, there used to be about 70 traditional hand looms in the workshop, which have now come down to 25.
