ANANTAPUR: President of the Andhra Pradesh Cheneta Karmika Sangham Ande Narasimha Rao on Thursday alleged that the State Government was trying to ruin the handloom sector by encouraging powerlooms at the cost of the former.

Talking to newspersons at Hindupur in Anantapur district, he explained that allocation of funds to handloom sector in the State compared to neighbouring States like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka would clearly indicate the State Government approach towards the traditional employment generation sector.

Allocation

While Tamil Nadu and Karnataka governments were allocating about Rs. 250 crores each to handloom sector every year, the State Government had been allocating only Rs. 70 crores and of which only Rs. 17 crores was being spent on development of the handloom sector. The remaining amount was being spent for the growth of powerloom sector, he alleged.

Suicide of weavers

Lack of encouragement to handloom sector and un-remunerative price to their produce was leading to suicides of handloom weavers in the State, he noted.

A committee led by Finance Minister K. Rosaiah had taken several decisions against the interest of handloom weavers, he said.

Employment sector

There were 1.75 lakh handlooms in Anantapur district and five lakh people were depending on the sector directly and indirectly.

It was second major employment generating sector after agriculture, he said. State meet of Cheneta Karmika Sangham would be held in Anantapur from January 18 to 20, 2007.

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