Weavers' plight echoes in RS on eve of 1857 war anniversary

New Delhi, May 9 (UNI) As the country celebrates the 150th anniversary of the First War of Independence tomorrow, the Government today found itself grilled in the Rajya Sabha on the plight of weavers of the fabric that fascinated the freedom fighters.

The Members recalled the weavers contribution to the freedom movement and wanted to know from the Government what it was doing to ameliorate their lot and whether their role had been highlighted in the celebrations planned.

The weavers' role found mention in the supplementaries asked during the Question Hour on their economic plight and reported starvation deaths and suicides among them.

Mr Digvijay Singh, Mr Sharad Yadav and Mr Shahid Siddiqui pointed out that weavers had played a significant role in the freedom movement.

They were the most vocal against the partition of the country too, they said. They said it would have been most apt if their role had found place in the 150th anniversary programmes.

The Minister said he would welcome any suggestion from them in this regard.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, however, soon intervened to point out that his Ministry had drawn up a variety of programmes including films that would inform the public on the contribution of weavers to the freedom movement.

Earlier, the government announced that it was considering a proposal to reduce interest rate on loan to weavers to seven per cent, as in the case of farmers and to waive off their debt.

The response came when Mr Ali Anwar of the JD(U) pointed out that the Bihar Government had waived off Rs 22.50 Crore debt of weavers and asked whether the Central Government was planning any step to improve their condition.

UNI