Karnataka - Bangalore

Weavers stage protest

Staff Reporter

Bangalore: Several silk weavers, reelers, twisters and others engaged in the industry staged a demonstration at Banappa Park under the banner of the Karnataka Weavers Federation here, demanding that the Union Government go ahead with its amendment to the Central Silk Board Act to help the industry come out of decades-old problem of stagnation and sub-standard quality.

Addressing the protesters, federation president T.V. Maruthi said the amendment would be a boon to the weavers. Lakhs of sericulturists and those engaged in the industry have been put to a lot of hardship for decades due to the impractical policies of the State Government, he said.

Liberalisation, he said, would help weavers, reelers and others get quality silk and an export market. The quality of silk produced in the country was not good, forcing it to import the produce from China, he said. The former president of the federation Y.V. Venkatappa and general secretary Chagan Lal participated in the protest.

The Mysore Powerloom Silk Manufacturers Cooperative Society urged the Government to abolish the Enforcement Cell in the Silk Exchange and safeguard the industry from harassment by its officers.

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