E-Paper
UP weavers to meet on July 19
A STATE-LEVEL convention of weavers and craftsman would be organised under the banner Bhartiya Hastakala Bunkar and Dastkar Kalyan Sansthan at Ganna Sansthan in Lucknow on July 19.
A STATE-LEVEL convention of weavers and craftsman would be organised under the banner Bhartiya Hastakala Bunkar and Dastkar Kalyan Sansthan at Ganna Sansthan in Lucknow on July 19.
Talking to newspersons here in Kanpur, Sansthan State president Afzalul Haque Azad said many senior leaders of the Samajwadi Party have given consent to participate in the function. Azad said that the purpose of the convocation was to apprise the State Government of the problems being faced by craftsmen and weavers of the State.
He appreciated the present State Government for considering the long-pending demand for rebate in electricity charges and hailed its decision of April 1, 2006.
Therefore, about 4 lakh weavers would get relief under the new scheme.
However, leaders said that they would demand a rebate in electricity for individual weavers too, along with clarity in the recent rebate made for power looms.
The leaders said that they would also request the government to remove sale tax on yarn used by the weaver community, exemption of the cases of loan against the weavers of district Unnao, Vanarasi and Kanpur. Besides, they would seek from State Government a contribution of Rs 200 in the Individual Weavers Health Insurance Scheme from governments of Uttranchal and Jharkhand, so that the poor weaver community could get hundred per cent health insurance.
The leaders demanded the early release of financial assistance under the ongoing revival package to UP Industrial Cooperative Society and UP Handloom Corporation, so that these organisations established for the support of weavers could once again start working for the welfare of the community. The convention would be presided over by SPMP Shahid Siddqee and SP general secretary Amar Singh, Urban Development Minister Azam Khan, State Handlooms Minister Jagdish Singh Rana.
