To develop textile sector, Karnataka government is contemplating launch of “Vastra bhagya” to hand out handloom sarees for women and dhotis for men belonging to BPL families on the occasion of two or three major festivals in the next fiscal, according to state’s minister for textiles, Babu Rao Chinchansur.
The minister said that there were 1.25 lakh working power looms, 75,000 working handlooms and around 10,000 manual looms at 1,000 co-operative societies. These units could produce sufficient quantity of handloom sarees and dhotis for one crore plus BPL families.
Highlighting the steps taken to develop the textiles sector, he said that 1,000 acres had been reserved for the proposed Textile Park in Yadgir area of the state. It is expected to provide employment for about 10,000 persons in this backward region. A modern Textile Training Institute will also be set up there.
Similar textile parks will also be set up at Sira in Tumakuru district and Kudathini in Ballari district of the state, Chinchanasur said.
The state government has waived loan and interest of Rs17.58 crore availed by 9,494 weavers from banks and other financial institutions for their working needs in 2013-14.
