The Akhila Karnataka Kaimagga Nekarara Sangha, an organisation of handloom weavers working under the Karnataka Handloom Development Corporation (KHDC), has threatened to lay seige to the Suvarna Soudha in Belgaum during the legislature session if long-pending demands of the handloom weavers are not met immediately.
Addressing presspersons here on Tuesday, along with other officebearers and senior weavers, sangha vice-president N. J. Malawade said that during the protest the weavers would also highlight the menace of ‘fake weavers’ associations that were depriving genuine weavers of their rightful facilities and benefits.
Mr. Malawade said that following the corruption of KHDC officials, and neglect of the State governments, KHDC had now incurred loss to the tune of the Rs. 90 crore and if the State government was concerned about reviving the corporation, it should take stringent measures against those responsible.
MOU for supplying cloth
Mr. Malawade said that the main demand of the sangha was that the State government enter into a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with KHDC for supply of cloth to government departments like education, health, police and the transport corporation. Through the order of supplying cloth to various government departments, KHDC was getting a revenue of around Rs. 50 crore and if it was ensured through an MOU, then more weavers would come to work under KHDC, he said.
