Handloom weavers and artisans carrying their traditional implements staged a demonstration in front of the Kurnool Collectorate here on Friday, seeking grant of loans with bank linkage.
While a weaver operated a charkah, a fisherman carried a fish net, potters carried pots, basket makers displayed baskets and a band artistes played drums and nadaswaram as part of the protest organised by the A.P. Artisans Coordination Committee district unit.
CPI (M) State leader T. Shadrak recalled that Mahatma Gandhi had described farmers and artisans as two eyes of the country, but the rapid mechanisation was depriving artisans of their livelihood.
Powerlooms had snatched away livelihood of handloom weavers, plastic and steel containers hit potters and basket weavers, readymade garments affected tailors and bed-making Dudekula community persons were losing work to coir and foam mattresses, he said.
The Central and State Governments promised uplift of artisans in their election promises, but were extending hefty concessions to industrialists and meting out step-motherly treatment to artisans, Mr. Shadrak alleged.
