"Protect Us From Powerloom Traders"

A weavers' delegation from Anantapur cornered minister for handlooms and textiles P Shankar Rao, for not coming to the aid of the handloom weavers reeling under the pressure mounted by powerloom traders.

Weavers are gradually being marginalised with rising costs of raw materials, while powerloom traders are dominating the scene with latest designs and higher production capacities, they alleged.

Replying to them, the minister passed the blame on to union minister of state for textiles Panabaaka Lakshmi, and held her responsible for the short supply of silk yarn - the raw material required for the handloom weavers.

He said that she, despite being from AP, was directing the supply of silk yarn to Tamil Nadu due to the pressure mounted on her by union minister for textiles Murasoli Maran. He said that this was happening in spite of reminders from Andhra Pradesh.

The minister also said that there was a shortage of funds, as the budget allocated to the textiles was low, and assured the weavers that he would speak to the chief minister and do the needful.

Shankar Rao told media persons at the Secretariat on Friday that silk yarn was in shortage, and that Andhra Pradesh depended mostly on silk yarn imports from China, which had been dominating the world market even with respect to deciding the rate and supply since their quality was high.

The minister said that he would request the CM to arrange to procure the silk yarn from the Karnataka Silk Board to ease the situation, and also to take steps to hike the production of mulberry cultivation, which is also not up to expectation.

A package for the handloom sector will be announced, he said.

Stating that there was a proposal to increase the weavers' subsidy shortly, Shankar Rao said that steps will be initiated to compete with the powerloom sector.

Regarding compensation to families of weavers who were committing suicides, he clarified that the issue would be sorted out as there was a funds crunch.

Secretary to government Ranjan Acharya said that mulberry cultivation was being neglected, and said that measures would be taken to improve it, as also to check the local traders in Anantapur who were said to be exploiting the situation.

Acharya added that sericulture support would be taken to help improve the situation, and that a package for weavers would also be announced soon. A waiver of loans of Rs. 312 crore would be effected in March next.

The state's requirement of silk yarn is 10,000 metric tonnes, he said.

Courtesy: INN