Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy denied the charges that the State Government was not paying attention to the problems of weavers.
Intervening on a issue during Question Hour in the State Legislative Assembly on Monday, the Chief Minister said that the government has waived off loans to the tune of Rs 312 crore of 22,500 handloom workers. Further, he said the government has also released Rs 300 crore towards the State’s contribution for a central government scheme of Rs 3,800 for the welfare of weavers.
Earlier, in his reply to a question raised by TDP MLAs L Ramana and others, Handlooms and Textiles Minister G Prasad Kumar said that State Government was providing 20 per cent subsidy on purchase of yarns, dyes and chemicals to the weavers. The State Government is providing Rs 150 per kg on purchase of silk yarn to the extent of 4 kgs of Silk Yarn per month per weaver family through the AP SERIFED.
The minister said to make available all types of yarn at Mill Gate Price to eligible handloom weavers so as to facilitate regular supply of basic raw material (yarn) to the handloom sector and to help utilise the full employment potential of the sector. The central government has also introduced the 10 per cent Price Subsidy on Hank Yarn under Mill Gate Price Scheme.
The minister also informed that the operative period to implement the Loan Waiver Scheme to Handloom Weavers has been extended up to March 31 this year.
However, not satisfied with the government’s reply, the TDP members demanded that the State extends similar benefits to the weaver on par with their counterparts in Haryana and Tamil Nadu.
The TDP members rushed to the well and started shouting the slogans. Following uproar, Speaker Nadendla Manohar adjourned the House for tea-break. (INN)