The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Officials promise to improve weavers' lot

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Sunday, Jun 03, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Officials promise to improve weavers' lot

Staff Reporter

Friday's meeting is part of initiatives taken by Government

TAMBARAM : A team of senior officials on Friday pledged the State Government's support to improve the living conditions of weavers and provide vocations that would sustain their families.

This assurance came at an awareness meeting for weaver members of the Anakaputhur Centre of Kancheepuram District Cooperative Intensive Handloom Development Scheme on Friday. The weavers, however, did not lose the opportunity to point out that they received little help and support from the different Government departments.

Weaver Rani said the "handloom sector had died in Anakaputhur" about six years ago with no scope for revival. While the men found jobs as painters or cooks, the women were left without any work, she said. Another weaver Saraswathy said that every time officials announced that weavers were eligible for financial assistance or relief under some scheme, they would be excited. "But we keep shuttling between our home and Chennai and Kancheepuram so frequently that we lose the interest to receive the aid," she said. She went on: "All we need is an assurance that we will continue to receive the Government's support." Secretary to the Department of Handlooms, Handicrafts, Textiles and Khadi Vishwanath Shegaonkar said the State Government would take steps to provide jobs to the weavers. It would extend assistance to them in the form of provision of raw materials and purchase of finished products.

He assured the weavers that Friday's meeting was part of a series of initiatives taken by the State Government to implement schemes that would provide a lasting solution. Referring to the dilapidated condition of M. Naraindas Handloom Weaving Factory, he said there were plans to renovate it at a cost of Rs. 1 crore. Engineers would study the structure to find out if repair works could be carried out. Kancheepuram Collector Pradeep Yadav said the district administration would explore the avenues of allocating the required sum. Managing Director of Co-optex M. P. Nirmala said the Government had conducted a study of Patharavedu in Tiruvallur district to be taken up as a weavers' cluster project and Anakaputhur too was included in that scheme. Handloom Export Promotion Council executive director G. Mathi Vathanan and Anakaputhur Municipal Chairman Bharathi Kumar were present.

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