The Hindu : Karnataka / Mysore News : Handloom corporation seeks orders for supply of uniforms

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 03, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Mysore

Handloom corporation seeks orders for supply of uniforms

By Our Staff Correspondent

MYSORE, DEC. 2. Karnataka Handloom Development Corporation (KHDC) Ltd. today appealed to the Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, to take steps to place orders with it to supply uniforms to children of government schools in the State.

Direction sought

Addressing presspersons here, the corporation Chairman, L.R. Ananth, urged Mr. Singh to direct the Education Department to place orders with the corporation to supply uniforms in Gulbarga, Mysore and Bangalore divisions for 2005.

Though the Government order to supply uniforms for 2004 was issued in June, the corporation had executed it in three months. "If the order for uniforms for 2005 was issued in the first week of November 2004 and advance payment was made, it would have helped weavers,'' Mr. Ananth pointed out.

Pending orders

The pending orders with the corporation would keep weavers employed till December. "We have supplied yarn to them for work from April to December. If the work order for uniforms is not issued soon, they will be jobless,'' Mr. Ananth said.

He appealed to the Chief Minister to direct the heads of government departments to purchase cloth only from the corporation. He cited the legislation enacted by the Andhra Pradesh Government in this regard.

`Sign MoU'

Mr. Ananth urged the Government to sign a memorandum of understanding with the corporation for at least 10 years to supply uniforms to schoolchildren and meet the demand by government departments.

`Abolish sales tax'

He also appealed to Mr. Singh to abolish the sales tax of 12 per cent on sizing, processing and printing of handloom products. "If the sales tax is not withdrawn, the handloom industry will face serious problems, leading to the migration of weavers to neighbouring States," he added.

Package

Recalling that the previous Congress Government had announced a package of Rs. 105 crores for the benefit of weavers, Mr. Ananth said Rs. 85 crores was earmarked for the corporation, including Rs. 14 crores for the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) for 270 employees.

In the first phase of the scheme, the corporation relieved 143 employees on October 31, saving Rs. 45.50 lakhs a month.

If the pending amount under the package was released, the remaining excess employees could be relieved, resulting in a net savings of Rs. 7.2 crores annually. "This is expected to convert the corporation into a profit making unit,'' he added.

Demand for saris

The Zodiac brand of saris launched by the corporation had evoked good response across the country. In view of the demand, the corporation had placed an order for 5,000 saris.

The corporation had taken steps to enter the overseas market. The opening of a "Priyadarshini International" showroom led to the corporation receiving orders from Australia, Sri Lanka, Canada and Singapore, he said.

Proposal

Mr. Ananth urged the Chief Minister to consider the amalgamation of the corporation with Karnataka Powerloom Development Corporation Ltd. and Cauvery Handlooms and form "Karnataka Textiles Development Corporation Ltd''.

The State Department of Commerce and Industries was working out the modalities of amalgamation and a proposal in the regard had been sent to the Textiles Ministry.

Decision

"If the Government takes a favourable decision, the weavers in the State will have work throughout the year,'' Mr. Ananth said.

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