Berhampur (Orissa): Orissa Government has
urged the Center to write off cooperative loans from weavers
in the state in the line of the farmer's loan waiver scheme.
Over Rs 285 crore outstanding was pending with the
weavers in different weavers’ cooperative societies and apex
society in the state.
"We have written (to the Centre) seeking measures to
write off cooperative loans pending with the weavers in the
state, said handlooms and textile secretary Arati Ahuja.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has also discussed the
issue with the union government and sought steps to write off
the pending cooperative loans from the weavers, she said.
"If it is accepted, thousands of weavers in Orissa
would be benefited. They had taken loans from 577 weavers
cooperative society and an apex cooperative body," she said.
As per the latest census, the total number of looms
and weavers in the state are 1,19,005 and 4,15,261
respectively. Out of these, 79,368 looms and 1,09,627 weavers
are in the cooperative fold.
She said the government had stressed on development of
handloom industries in the state in the organised sector by
providing modern looms and accessories and imparting training
to weavers for skill development and marketing support.
The government also instructed the Field staff to
implement the benefit schemes in letter and spirit to improve
the economic condition of weavers, she said.
Bureau Report
First Published: Tuesday, November 03, 2009, 18:52