Vaghela asks handloom weavers to shift to powerloom weaving

New Delhi, May 29 (UNI) Union Textiles Minister Shankersinh Vaghela today asked the weavers to shift from handloom to powerloom, do value addition to the products and also try to diversify into more related fields for their betterment.

''The Government will provide all possible support and assistance to those shifting from handloom weaving to powerlooms,'' Mr Vaghela assured this, while distributing the Cashless Health Insurance Cards to weavers at a Delhi Government-organised function here.

He said soon a Handloom Mark will be introduced to differentiate between a handloom and powerloom product. A 'logo' on the lines of Woolmark and Rugmark is being finalised for the purpose.

Handloom Mark will give handloom fabric a distinct identity which will help in selling handloom fabrics.

Mr Vaghela also informed that a meeting of all the concerned Ministries, authorities, state governments and labour unions will be organised here to discuss the labour reforms in the country.

He said industry demands increase in working hours to 9 nine hours and a day and weekly from 48 to 60 hours and also flexibility in hiring labour according to the order book.

He was hopeful that Left parties will also lend a support in finalising the labour issues for the development of different sectors in the country. No workers will suffer any loss, he said.

Earlier, Mr B K Sinha, Development Commissioner(Handloom) described the funding pattern of the Cashless Health Insurance scheme saying that out of the total annual premium of Rs 1,000, Rs 800 will be borne by the Government and Rs 200 will be contributed by the handloom weaver for availing insurance cover upto Rs 15,000 for himself, his wife and two children.

Ministry of Textiles had entered into an agreement with ICICI Lombart last year for providing health insurance benefits to the weavers.

Over 2.65 lakh weavers have already been covered under the Scheme so far.

ICICI Lombart will provide the cashless health care facilities to the weavers in the empanelled hospital and nursing homes in various states all over the country through their representatives.

Mr Sinha also mentioned other initiatives taken by the Government for the benefit of weavers including Cluster Development Scheme, Life Insurance Scheme, Restructuring of Handloom Apex Societies and Corporations.

Delhi Industry Minister Mangat Ram Singhal said the State Director in-charge of handlooms will be responsible to verify the eligibility of the weavers who are proposed to be benefitted in respect of whom the claims are preferred and also finalising insurance coverage of the weavers with the ICICI Lombart.

Mr Singhal appealed to all the handloom weavers of Delhi to come forward to know more about the welfare and the other schemes of the Central Government and avail all possible benefits.

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