Tamil Nadu

Steps to ensure benefits for weavers

CHENNAI: The government is taking steps to ensure that the benefits of its social welfare schemes reach all weavers in Tamil Nadu.

The State has 4.13 lakh weavers, and 2.35 lakh are under the co-operative fold and the rest under the private sector. During 2008-2009, the government allocated Rs. 574 crore for several social welfare schemes, such as health insurance, the central thrift fund, scholarships, old-age pension, family pension and payment of premium under the Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana. Talking to The Hindu, Handlooms Minister K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran said: “As of now, 50 per cent of the handloom weavers are reaping the benefits of our welfare schemes. Our plan is to extend the benefits to everyone in phases. Some weavers are under the control of master weavers. And some are partially exploited. We are trying to bring them under the co-operative setup, so that they can earn higher wages and enjoy social benefits.”

Mr. Ramachandran said the government took into consideration the interest of weavers before it announced schemes. For example, the handloom and powerloom weavers were given free electricity, rebate on the sale of handloom cloth and incentive/rebate under the Integrated Handloom Development Scheme.

“In the past two years, 110 co-operative societies in the handloom sector and 25 in the powerloom sector had been formed, taking the number to 1,103 in the handloom sector and 147 in the powerloom sector. Under the medical/health insurance schemes, we have settled 82,000 claims, amounting to Rs 11 crore,” he said.

The main function of the powerloom weavers’ co-operative societies is production of dhotis and saris to be supplied to the poor.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu