Cabinet panel to go into weavers' problems

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, MARCH 7. The Chief Minister, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, has set up a Cabinet sub-committee to formulate short-term and long-term plan to solve the problems of weavers.

The Minister for Handlooms and Textiles, Mr. P. Bhoomanna, the Minister for Animal Husbandry, Mr. N. Kishtappa, the Minister for Major Industries, Mr. K. Vidyadhara Rao, and the Minister for Transport, Mr. B. V. Mohan Reddy, are on the panel.

The plight of the weavers, as highlighted by suicides in Karimnagar district, figured in the teleconference Mr. Naidu had with Cabinet colleagues on Wednesday.

Mr. Naidu expressed concern over the fact that even powerloom weavers were driven to the extreme step and asked the Ministers to consult representatives of weavers, experts and others connected with the issue to prepare the plan. The committee was also mandated to collect information on the situation in other states and the steps by Governments there to solve weavers problems.

Round-table meeting

Meanwhile, a round-table meeting of representatives of different political parties held here to discuss the problems of handloom weavers agreed that only an agitational path would force the Government to come to their rescue.

Mr. K. Rosaiah of the Congress-I said the apathy of the Government towards the handloom sector was appalling. It was refusing to even acknowledge the seriousness of the crisis, he said. However, fighting against the Government on the issue would mean a lot of groundwork and a campaign in villages first. The weavers must be psychologically prepared for the struggle before waging an agitation, he said. His party would support any movement launched by the Left parties, he assured the gathering.

Mr. B.V. Raghavulu, secretary of the CPI (M) State Committee, said the State Government would not heed to pleas and vocal protests. Only an agitation would bring it to senses.

Mr. Narayana, joint secretary of the CPI, said the State Government must be given a severe jolt to wake it up from the self-imposed stupor and it must be forced to come to the rescue of handloom weavers.

Mr. C. Prahlada, senior leader of the weavers' community, accused the State Government of suppressing funds released by the Centre to weavers.

Mr. P. Sriramulu, convener of the BJP's Weavers' Cell, said the turnover of APCO, which was Rs.135 crores in 1994-95, had come down to Rs. 14 crores now.

Mr. D. Venkatesam, convener of the Congress-I's Joint Action Committee, said the Government had not released payment due to the societies for the last 26 months. The TDP once launched an agitation during Congress-I regime for delaying payments for six months and Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu himself had led the protest, he said, demanding release of Rs. 50 crores immediately.

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Section  : Southern States
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