Expressing concern over the plight of weavers in Guntur district, senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday demanded that the state government immediately announce a special package for the members of the community who are facing financial crisis, to enable them to get out the debt trap.
Talking to media persons after enquiring about the condition of weavers in the rain-hit district, the BJP leader termed the relief package announced by the state government as 'meagre', and said that it was grossly insufficient to help the weavers come out of the financial crisis.
Venkaiah Naidu also described the relief package as an 'eyewash', and demanded that the minister and officials concerned visit the areas in which the weavers reside, to get first-hand knowledge of the ground realities instead of sitting in air-conditioned rooms and taking decisions.
The BJP leader added that the condition of the weavers, particularly those who had lost their livelihood due to unseasonal rains, was pathetic.
He urged the government to waive all loans and interest on loans taken by weavers, immediately. He also appealed to the state government to sanction fresh loans to weavers to start their profession.
Venkaiah Naidu demanded that the government supply free ration and rice to weavers through the public distribution system for 3 months.