Despair, suicides among weavers return to Sircilla town over past 3 years

Sircilla’s weavers are once again facing financial distress and livelihood concerns, with 34 weavers reportedly dying by suicide over the past three years. Workers and power loom masters blame reduced orders, government neglect and difficulties affecting the textile sector.

Rajanna Sircilla: Weavers from the textile hub, Sircilla, which once bustled with rhythmic clatter of both hand and power looms, continue to reel under palpable despair and distress caused by alleged negligence of the State government in addressing their major challenges and supporting the sector over the past three years.

As many as 34 weavers of the textile town died by suicide reportedly due to financial crisis over the past three years, reflecting the gravity of the crisis. They are severely hit by lack of livelihood. They are struggling to find employment with the government neglecting their sector. They alleged that it had nursed a grudge against them for casting votes in favour of BRS working president KT Rama Rao.

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Meanwhile, workers and masters who depend on power looms face untold hardships. Their plight can be attributed to cancellation of orders by the State to prepare school uniforms and injustice caused by flouting government orders meant for ensuring their livelihood. They regretted that they were facing a pitiable plight after grappling with a slew of challenges. They recalled that they were enjoying a happy life.

Sircilla town used to hit the headlines for seeing suicides of weavers at regular intervals. Significantly, it witnessed 402 deaths of weavers by suicide from 2004 to 2014, drawing the attention of the country. The Congress was receiving sharp criticism for allocating meagre funds and ignoring the major challenges of the weavers, and workers and masters of power looms.

However, weavers and power loom workers and masters comparatively found a breather after the BRS came to power in the newly formed state in 2014. The then BRS government was credited with implementing a slew of initiatives for the welfare of the weavers. It had earmarked a whopping Rs 1,200 crore in the annual budget of the textile department for the first time.

Similarly, the BRS government had created separate corporations for handloom and power looms. It had established an apparel park at Peddur spending Rs 174 crore. It modernized age-old power looms at a cost of Rs 30 crore. It took measures to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the looms. It extended social security pension to weavers aged above 50.

Besides, the government had placed an order for weaving 1.50 lakh national flags in 2015, offering employment to weavers. It had encouraged the weavers to produce Bathukamma saris, RVM school uniforms, etc. The schemes and measures resulted in a spike in textile products turnover from Rs 250 crore to Rs 1,000 crore per annum.

Consequently, the town registered a dip in suicides over a period of time, while weavers who migrated to other states began coming back to Sircilla. They claimed that they were able to earn Rs 15,000-Rs 20,000 per month due to sustained efforts of the government. They expressed happiness over leading a happy life in their native town.