Insurance Scheme For Weavers From August 7

Telangana Minister K T Rama Rao announced that the State government would be launching Nethanna Ku Bima, a new insurance scheme for all handloom and powerloom weavers, on August 7 to mark the celebration of the National Handlooms Day.

The government will provide insurance coverage to all handloom and powerloom weavers under the scheme.

Telangana would be the first State in the country to extend insurance coverage to weavers, said Rao.

The State government has already issued orders to the effect.

Under the scheme, insurance coverage will be extended to weavers under 60 years of age, on par with what farmers get under the Rythu Bima. Nearly 80,000 handloom and powerloom, and ancillary, weavers will benefit from the scheme.

Under the scheme, if any weaver dies due to any ailment or any untoward incident, Rs 5 lakh will be offered to their next of kin.

"The move to extend insurance coverage to weavers will instill some financial confidence among their families," KTR said.

For effective implementation of the scheme, State-level and district-level committees would be constituted, the minister added.

"Since 2016-17, the State government has been sanctioning a special budget of Rs. 1,200 crore annually for the handlooms sector. This is in addition to the regular financial assistance to the sector in the budget. In the 2022-23 financial year, the State government allocated Rs. 55.12 crore to the handlooms sector. In addition to this, Rs. 400 crore were sanctioned under the Weaker Section welfare budget," the minister added.