After hectic consultations to put an end to the pathetic situation in both the hand-loom and power-loom sectors in the State, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has laid-out a three-pronged strategy. This include financial assistance and input subsidies for hand-loom weavers, up-gradation of power-looms and lending a helping hand to those who had switched over to alternative jobs for survival.

He said that said the State government would come up with a comprehensive policy to end the misery of the weavers’ community in the State. Holding an high-level meeting which was also attended by the representatives of the hand-loom and power-loom sectors at Pragathi Bhavan, he outlined his proposed policy initiatives.

Reiterating his commitment to the Padmashali community, he said that the government will do everything to pull them out of the desperate situation they were in. Padmashalis could be categorised under three sections – those working on hand-looms, workers in power-looms and those who left their age-old profession seeking alternative jobs.

The Chief Minister pointed out that the government’s effort was to ensure that not even a single worker commits suicide and they get a decent salary for their families to lead a respectable life.

Stating that the government would give financial assistance to those weaving general cloth, the Chief Minister said subsidy will be given on yarn and chemicals and the government will purchase the cloth weaved by them, besides ensuring hassle-free marketing.

He said the government has taken up enumeration of hand-looms and weavers working. A policy will also be framed for the special and exclusive sarees woven in Narayanpet, Gadwal and Pochampally as they enjoy international demand and reputation.