T.N. seeks early release of funds

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, FEB. 18. The State Government has urged the Central Government to release its share for completing various welfare schemes for handloom weavers in the State.

Funds to the tune of about Rs. 44.18 crores are due from the Centre for various development and welfare programmes for the weavers, which are in different stages of implementation in the State.

According to official sources, under the Deendayal Hathkargha Protsahan Yojana (DDHPY), the State is entitled to Rs. 23.43 crores for the current financial year. It is a comprehensive development and promotion scheme with 50 per cent contribution from states, covering handloom weavers both in the cooperative and non-cooperative sectors.

The scheme is aimed at helping handloom weavers purchase looms by availing 50 per cent of the cost from the Centre as loan subject to a maximum of Rs. 2,000. The other features of the scheme include design training centres, processing facilities and marketing network for the weavers.

Similarly, the Centre has not released its contribution under the market development assistance (MDA) for the year 1998-99 and 1999- 2000 totalling Rs. 8.51 crores. This is apart from Rs. 23.43 crores due from the Centre for the current year under the market incentive scheme.The other heads under which the Centre is yet to sanction funds are project package scheme (Rs. 2.71 crores), integrated handloom village development programme (1.22 crores), weavers house cum workshed (1.46 crores), Central thrift fund scheme (5.2 crores), separate workshed for weavers (8.55 crores), health package (Rs. 3.72 crores), and group insurance (Rs. 3.67 crores).

During the recent visit of the Union Minister of Textiles, Mr. Kashiram Rana, to Chennai, the State Handloom Minister, Mr. N.K.K. Periasamy, requested him to release the money at the earliest so as to pass on the benefits to weavers in time.

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Section  : Southern States
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