Andhra Pradesh

Official apathy spells doom for weavers

By C. Narayana Rao

NELLORE, NOV. 12. The handloom sector, which is only next to agriculture in Nellore district, is getting a raw deal. Thanks to the lukewarm attitude of officials in dealing with the crisis facing the industry. Things have come to such a pass that despite a number of suicides by weavers, they remain a neglected lot.

There are nearly 12,200 handlooms with about 60,000 weavers scattered i

n about 221 villages in 40 mandals. The concentration is mainly in Venkatagiri, Gudur, Kovuru, Butchireddipalem, Sangam, Vinjamoor, A. S. Pet, Podalakur, Venkatachalam and Nellore rural mandals. While 5,820 handlooms are in the co-operative fold, 6,400 looms are said to be under private sector.

Venkatagiri and Patur are important handloom production centres in the district noted for their traditional handcrafted fine cotton sarees embodied in pure zari with rich finishing.

The weavers here are known for their craftsmanship and skills in weaving Jamdani variety without any mechanical support.

There are about 52 weavers' co-operative societies in the district. On record there are a number of welfare schemes for weavers. According to Jagjivan, Assistant Director of Handlooms, Nellore, primary weavers co-operative societies are sanctioned cash credits under NABARD refinance scheme through the Nellore District Central Co-operative Bank at a concessional rate of 9 per cent interest.

For 2004-2005, a cash credit limit of Rs. 14.36 crores has been recommended to the bank to assist 31 societies.

Under the comprehensive project package scheme, which covers the wide gamut of activities, such as product development, infrastructure support, training etc., the Government released Rs. 12.38 crores to the societies and so far Rs. 8.84 crores had been utilised. Much emphasis has been laid on integrated handloom training support to weavers, in weaving, dyeing and design development through the Weavers Service Centre, Vijayawada. An amount of Rs. 18.93 lakhs had been sanctioned for six societies for this purpose. There are some other schemes like the centrally sponsored workshed-cum-housing scheme, Neta Bazars and special housing scheme.

Problem of `monopoly'

However, the department has not been able to tackle the main problem -- `monopoly' of the master weavers.

Each master weaver, depending on his clout and financial stability, controls not less than 100 weavers. In fact weavers are at their mercy and no one knows the exact quantum of aid received from the Government and its utilisation.

Panel report

Way back in 1989, a committee headed by the then Sub-Collector of Gudur, Raymond Peter, was appointed to go into this issue. It identified the root cause and recommended a comprehensive overhaul to streamline the sector from the grip of influential weavers. However, nothing has moved ahead since then and weavers continue to languish in penury.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu