Weavers’ kids to get money under Vidyanidhi scheme: CM

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: As many as 46,000 children of weaver’s families have been identified for Vidyanidhi scheme and the amount will be released soon, said Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.

Speaking after launching the Direct Benefit Transfer scheme of grants for handloom weavers under ‘Nekar Sanman’ scheme here on Friday, he instructed officials concerned to submit the list of the 46,000 children of weaver’s families within 15 days to release Vidyanidhi funds immediately. No application will be collected from the children as Vidyanidhi is their right, he added.

The CM also said it is important to upgrade the weaving profession as weavers sit amidst cotton for a very long time and are susceptible to ailments like asthma and tuberculosis. To care for people engaged in this profession, the government has hiked the financial assistance for them from Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000 under Nekar Sanman scheme.

To discuss their several demands, a meeting of the Department of Energy and the minister concerned will be held. In order to bail them out from the economic crisis, each artist will be given financial assistance to the tune of Rs 50,000 each. As many as 46,484 weavers are the beneficiaries of ‘Nekar Sanman’ scheme and each one will be given Rs 5,000.

As much as Rs 23.43 crore has been transferred to bank accounts of the weavers. Bommai said the weaving profession has created the maximum number of jobs and it were weavers who strengthened the freedom struggle.

They worked day and night to supply cloth to make people wear ‘Swadeshi cloth’ during the freedom movement. The industry has grown since 1947 and has earned a special status in the nation. Weaving is an artistic profession and this art has been protected, preserved and continued for many generations.

Thanks to changing technology, even the textile industry has witnessed changes, he added. Sugar, Textile and Handloom Minister Shankar Patil Munenkoppa, Home Minister Araga Jnanendra, MLA Poornima and officials of the department were present.