Telangana enabling growth of handloom weavers: KTR
The Minister says various schemes by State govt have greatly benefitted the community
Hyderabad: Telangana is setting an example in promoting handloom and supporting weavers through a number of initiatives, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, IT Minister KT Rama Rao said here, on Saturday.
Speaking after inaugurating the National Handloom Day celebrations with a week-long handloom exhibition at People’s Plaza, the Minister said the State government was committed towards enabling the growth of handloom weavers in the State. In 2013, in the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, the State budget for handlooms and textiles was Rs 70 crore but after Telangana was formed, Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao increased the budget to Rs 1,200 crore. This is testimony to the government’s commitment to the weavers of the State, he said, adding that schemes such as Chenetha Mithra and Nethanna Ku Cheyutha have greatly benefitted handloom weavers in Telangana.
Pointing out that these initiatives have set an example for other States with officials from different States visiting Telangana to know about these schemes, Rao said under the Chenetha Mitra scheme, master-weavers, handloom workers, etc. have been receiving 50 per cent subsidy on equipment and raw materials required for their work. Additionally under the same programme, 22,319 weavers received a total of Rs 13.34 crores as a part of the government’s Direct Benefit Scheme.
Rama Rao also informed that under the Nethanna Ku Cheyutha scheme, the recurring deposits of handloom weavers were disbursed before maturity, keeping in view the financial situation owing to the Covid pandemic. “The funds had a three-year lock-in period but because of the pandemic, the government released a total fund of Rs 96.43 crore before the maturity, for 20,537 beneficiaries,” Rao said, after releasing another Rs 30 crore towards the same at the event.
The State was also taking a comprehensive approach to promote handlooms in the State, by adding handlooms onto e-Golkonda, an e-commerce platform for Telangana handicrafts. The Telangana State Handicrafts Development Corporation, which runs the platform has entered into an MoU with TSCO for the same, he said. As part of this, certain lost-in-time weaves like Armoor Silk Sarees, Pitambara Silk Sarees, Siddipet Gollabhama Sarees, Himro Weaves were relaunched at the event and displayed as a part of a virtual fashion show.
Handloom weavers and fashion designers utilising handloom weaves in their designs were felicitated at the event, along with a cash reward of Rs 25,000. Warangal Mayor Gundu Sudharani, and innovator Chintakindi Mallesham, among others, were present.
Unique stalls at exhibition
The exhibition cum sale features ethnic, handloom weaves from places like Pochampally, Narayanpet, Gadwal, etc in the State, in addition to having stalls from various other States. The week-long exhibition features many stalls selling exquisite weaves and also sarees, dhotis, kurtas and the usual handloom clothes.
Out of the many stalls, the one that stands out the most is the stall run by the Telangana State Prison Department. The wares in this stall, including towels, masks, bedsheets, dress materials and more have all been woven by prisoners at Cherlapally, Chanchalguda and the former Warangal jails.
According to DSP Krishnamurthy, the Prisons official at the stall, the proceeds from these sales will go towards prison development fund and prisoner welfare. “The entire collection one can see here has been woven and stitched by prisoners. It is a part of our skill development programme to ensure the prisoners have a skill to rely on once they are released,” said Krishnamurthy.
Another unique stall was by the students of International Fashion School (IFS). Using traditional handloom weaves, the students created designs fitting modern fashion styles and tastes. “We used Pochampally weaves to make pants, western tops, blazers, etc., and all of these have been designed and stitched entirely by students of IFS,” said Mahesh G, of the institution.
Also read:
Telangana celebrates National Handloom Day
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