Industries Minister K.T. Rama Rao has exhorted members of the information technology establishment to wear handloom products and encourage their sales.
The Minister who took the initiative of making the Government staff wear handloom clothes at least once a week wanted the employees of other sectors like the industry and hospitality to follow suit as it would go a long way in protecting the art form and helping those dependent on it.
Mr. Rama Rao attended the National Handlooms Day celebrations here on Monday after participating in a handloom walk organised to mark the occasion.
Asserting that the State Government was extending its assistance to the sector, he said Telangana was the only State in the country which took the initiative of extending 50% subsidy to weavers for purchasing yarn, dyes and chemicals.
A unique scheme “nethanna cheyuta” was launched with a view to extending financial support and social security to weavers.
Efforts were under way to waive loans obtained by weavers by allocating ₹15 crore. In addition, steps had been initiated to ensure geo-tagging of handlooms and powerlooms to ascertain the exact number involved in the sector so that benefits could be extended accordingly, he said.
Weaver statue garlanded
Special Correspondent from Sircilla adds that the National Handlooms day was celebrated with much pomp and gaiety in a traditional manner in Sircilla. Rajanna Sircilla District Collector D. Krishna Bhaskar along with other officials and weavers participated in a walkathon from the District Handlooms and Textile Department office in B.Y. Nagar to the statue of Handloom Weaver in the town.
The Collector garlanded the statue of the Handloom Weaver on the occasion.
Later, at a meeting, the Collector called upon the people to encourage ancient traditional art of handlooms and the weavers by wearing the handloom products.
He said that the State Government was taking all measures for increasing the wages of the weavers by providing them with more employment opportunities.
The District Collector felicitated 10 handloom weavers and distributed prizes to the winners in essay writing competition. Joint Collector Yasmeen Basha, Additional Director Handlooms and Textile Ashok Rao and others were also present on the occasion.
Handloom outlet opened
Special Correspondent from Nizamabad adds: Rallies and opening of handloom outlets marked the Day observed in undivided Nizamabad district on Monday.
District Collector Yogitha Rana flagged off the Handloom Rally attended by Joint Collector A. Ravinder Reddy, Sub-Collector Sikta Patnaik, Mayor Akula Sujatha and others.
The rally which began at the DSA Ground proceeded through the main thoroughfares of the town and concluded at the same spot where the Mayor opened a handloom outlet.
