Handloom and Textiles Minister UG Brahma announces subsidies for weavers

OUR CORRESPONDENT

KOKRAJHAR: Giving relief to weavers, especially during the pandemic situation, the Minister of Handloom and Textile, Soil Conservation and Welfare of BTC, UG Brahma on Thursday announced more subsidies to weavers and assured to re-strengthen the markets.

Talking to mediapersons in Kokrajhar on Thursday, Brahma said that COVID-19 had affected the handloom and textile sector as a result of which productivity and markets had gone down. He said that the State Government had decided to re-strengthen the handloom and textile sector by introducing new policies and innovative schemes with an aim to increase production and sale.

"Earlier, the State Government provided mulberry yarn at 20 per cent subsidy to weavers and cotton at 30 per cent subsidy," he said, adding that the State's weavers had faced drastic downfall of production due to the pandemic situation since 2020. He said that his department had decided to increase the subsidy from existing 20 per cent to 30 per cent for mulberry and from 30 per cent to 50 per cent subsidy for cotton yarn up to December, 2022. He also assured to provide 15 kg of mulberry yarn to each weaver family every month at 30 per cent subsidy.

Brahma said that the department had earmarked an amount of Rs 80 crore for buying local traditional products which were commercially viable, like Aronai, gamosa and riha to supply in the markets, including international market. There are 33 yarn banks in Assam but due to COVID-19, these yarn banks failed to sell the yarn to weavers for which damages occurred, he said, adding that the government had decided to revitalize and increase the yarn banks. He also assured to extend the handloom model village in Assam. Since the BTC region is known for being the largest producer in sericulture sector, he assured financial aid to new planters for mulberry and cotton. He also said that the government had decided to set up trade centre in every district and subdivision and handloom and textile portal to collect data of total annual production of handloom across the State.

Also Read: Minister UG Brahma distributes cheques to 13 widows in Chirang district

Also watch: