As the government was paying special attention to skill upgrade of weavers, loom upgrade, ensuring availability of good quality raw material and providing better access to credit of good handloom products. “The handloom and textiles department need to hold district-level meetings to ensure that more number of weavers are covered under Mudra Yojana,” Arvind Kumar, principal secretary (industries) said.

Kumar held a meeting with director of handlooms and textiles Preeti Meena, Tesco managing director Sailaja Ramaiyyar and Punjab National Bank deputy general manager Rajiv Puri to review the status of loans being accessed by weavers under Mudra Yojana. Punjab National Bank is the nodal bank for implementation of Mudra Yojana in the state.

“The bank would finance the weavers directly based on their track record. All payments to weavers should be routed through the bank accounts opened for the purpose,” Puri said.

Puri also urged for a memorandum of understanding to be entered into by Tesco/Directorate of handlooms and textiles and Punjab National Bank in this regard. Individual members not covered under the ambit of cooperative societies would be financed on case-by-case basis.

Kumar also held a meeting with officials of Life Insurance Corporation and discussed implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana in the state. All the eligible weavers, who were left out, should approach the district handloom officials immediately and get themselves enrolled under this scheme.

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