Taking serious exception to the Rs. 20 crore loss to the Karnataka Handloom Development Corporation and holding Textiles Minister Baburao Chinchanasur responsible for it, weavers have urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to drop the Minister from the Cabinet.
Addressing presspersons here recently, vice-presidents of the Akhila Karnataka Kaimagga Nekarara Sangha N.J. Malavade and Vittappa Gorantli and other office bearers alleged that it was because of the meddling by the Minister that the handloom corporation had suffered such a huge loss.
Misappropriation
They said it was because of the Minister that misappropriation of funds had taken place in the ‘madilu’ kit order and in the scheme of supply of uniforms by powerlooms.
“Because of the misappropriations and mismanagement, handloom workers have not got work and are being pushed to the streets,” Mr. Malavade said.
Referring to an inquiry committee report on the irregularities in supply of uniforms by registered powerlooms association, Mr. Malavade said the inquiry conducted by the Commissioner for Textile Development and Director of Handlooms and Textiles had revealed that instead of taking up manufacturing as per the government order, the powerlooms had procured ready material from powerlooms in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, which was in clear violation of the rules.
The inquiry had revealed that powerloom owners had not produced the cloth required for the government school uniforms and the inspection conducted at the registered powerlooms revealed that they had not woven the cloth required for the uniforms.
“However, despite the cheating by the powerlooms, order was again given to the powerlooms at the behest of the Textile Minister,” he said.
Mr. Malavade said the Sangha would urge the Chief Minister to sack Mr. Chinchansaur and bring to book all those involved in the scam.
They allege that
Rs. 20 crore was
lost in six months
owing to the Minister’s interference
