Slamming the BJP-led government at the Centre for its anti-weaver policies, TRS (BRS) working president and Textiles Minister KT Rama Rao demanded to the union government on Friday that the 5% GST imposed on the country’s handlooms and textiles industry be abolished. While he would be writing a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the subject, he urged Telangana people to post bulk letters to the Prime Minister’s Office in order to bring the Centre to its knees.
Rama Rao said at a meeting organized by the Padmashali community in Manneguda in Ibrahimpatnam constituency here that Narendra Modi was the first Prime Minister to impose a tax on the handlooms and textiles sector, which was the country’s second-largest employer.
He believed that the Modi government was determined to end all welfare and development initiatives for weavers initiated by successive governments.
“From National Handloom Board and National Powerloom Board to Mahatma Gandhi Bhunkar Yojana and weavers’ insurance and savings schemes, the Centre is removing all the schemes. Further, there is no response from the union government to the requests from the Telangana government to support weavers,” the Minister stated. As a result of the Centre’s lackadaisical attitude, India lagged far behind countries such as Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in textile production.
He mentioned that the BJP government remained irresponsive to requests to support the establishment of Kakatiya Mega Textile Park, National Textile Research Institute, Handlooms Export Promotion Council, Institute of Handloom Technology and other facilities. He noted that, even after four years, union Home Minister Amit Shah’s promise to establish a handloom park in Narayanpet remained a non-starter.
Rama Rao outlined several progressive measures implemented by the TRS government to benefit the weavers’ community. He stated that the TRS government has allocated Rs 1,200 crore per annum for the welfare of the handloom sector, has provided a 40% subsidy on yarn and dyes through the ‘Chenetha Mithra’ scheme, introduced Rs five lakh insurance coverage for handloom and power loom workers through ‘Nethanna Ku Bhima’ and implementing ‘Nethannaku Cheyutha’ scheme.
During COVID, the Telangana government sanctioned an amount of Rs 100 crore to weavers through ‘Nethannaku Cheyutha’ well before the maturity date. He added that the scheme will be continued in light of the benefits it has provided to the community. He stated that the TRS government has waived weavers loans up to Rs 1 lakh, benefiting approximately 10,500 people.
On the occasion, the Minister stated that an integrated training, production and sales centre in Narayanpet and handlooms park in Gadwal are being set up. He also mentioned that the State government would provide Rs 3 lakh to each eligible weaver having a housing plot for the construction of a house. He also promised to provide Asu equipment, looms, sheds, and other textile-related equipment to weavers.
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