Move to give more jobs to weavers

ANANTAPUR: Handlooms and Textiles minister P Shankar Rao said both the union and state governments are taking measures for providing jobs to weavers, throughout the year.Addressing officials of textiles and APCO department at a review meeting here on Sunday, he said the government has initiated measures to prevent weavers’ suicides.Rs 312 crore has been sanctioned for clearing loans of weavers in the state out of which Rs 109 crore has already been released in the first phase and Rs 8.19 crore worth loans of 3,885 weavers have been cleared in the district, he said.Stating that as many as 57 weavers have committed suicide in the district since 2002, he assured to find out the reasons behind it.Shanker Rao said he is visiting all districts and holding meetings with the officials to find out the problems of weavers.The minister also said the union government has sanctioned Rs 400 crore for the weavers from the Rs 3,000 crore allotted for weavers’ welfare.