Call to prop up Handloom

Warangal: The government has its focus on protecting the handloom industry and those families dependent on it, Warangal Urban District Collector Amrapali Kata said, speaking at a programme organised as part of fourth ‘National Handloom Day’ here on Tuesday.

It may be noted here that the Central government has declared August 7 as the National Handloom Day to encourage people to use handlooms in the country. The significance of August 7 is that exactly on this day in 1905, 'Swadeshi Movement' was launched.

She said that the government had been implementing a multi-pronged strategy for the upliftment of weavers under which they have been offered several sops such as 50 per cent subsidy on yarn and chemicals.

The Collector reeled out several welfare and development programmes being taken up by the State government for weavers including Chenetha Mitra, Nethannaku Cheyutha, modernisation of looms and other schemes.

Mayor Nannapaneni Narender said the government is leaving no stone unturned to assist the weavers so that to protect handlooms. “From subsidies to marketing facilities, MA&UD Minister KT Rama Rao, who also looks after the handloom portfolio, is doing his best to lift the sinking industry,” he said.

In another programme, Warangal West MLA Dasyam Vinay Bhaskar, who flagged off the handloom weavers rally at the Urban Collectorate, said that the government had allocated Rs 1,200 crore to give a fillip to handloom industry. No other government in the State had achieved such a distinction, he added. ZP CEO Vijayagopal, Handlooms ADs Raghavender Rao, Ravinder Rao and I&PR Deputy Director DS Jagan were among others present.

Elsewhere, Warangal Rural District Collector M Haritha, who visited the handloom stall set up by the Shayampet weavers cooperative society, appealed to people to give a helping hand to the handloom industry that has been in doldrums before the government came forward to rescue it. Parkal MLA Challa Dharma Reddy was also present.