Date:18/01/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/18/stories/2007011807610300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur

State accused of neglecting weavers

Staff Reporter

`Apathy leading to suicides, hunger deaths'

ANANTAPUR: Andhra Pradesh Cheneta Karmika Sangham (APCKS) has alleged that hunger deaths and suicides of handloom weavers are continuing in the State because the State and Central Governments have failed to lift the handloom sector out of the crisis. Corruption and irregularities in APCO have complicated their problems further, the sangham leaders said.

Talking to newspersons here on Wednesday, on the eve of sangham's 11th State congress being held here from January 18 to 20, State president Ande Narasimha Rao and general secretary Eshala Ashok alleged that instead of protecting the handloom sectors from the onslaught of powerlooms, the State and Central Government were encouraging the latter with tax rebates, giving away lands to set up textile and apparel parks among others.

At the same time, no efforts were being made to implement the reservation of 11 categories of fabric-making for handlooms sector by not taking any action against the powerlooms, where all the reserved categories were being made violating the Supreme Court orders.