Govt to provide skill development programmes for weavers

Hyderabad, Aug 8 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Mines and Handloom Minister P Sabitha Indra Reddy today said the government would set up 10 'clusters' to provide skill development programmes and promote entrepreneurship among weavers community this year.

Addressing the media here, she said the clusters would be set up in the villages where the weavers were concentrated. Two clusters at Chirala in Prakasham district and Madhavaram in Kadapa district were established last year, with the central aid of Rs two crore for each, she added.

Stating that Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy's government was committed to uplift the living standards of weaver's community, she said the total turnover of the state government supported APCO was Rs 137 crore last year. The government was targeting Rs 150 crore turnover this year.

Launching a private company developed website 'www.handlooms.com' the Minister said it would act as a connecting link between all the weavers, artisans, wholesalers, master weavers, retailers and the importers and exporters.

The website would provide necessary support in the areas such as latest trends, colours, fashion, branding and documentation.

On senior TDP leader and former Home Minister T Devendra Goud's 'padayatra' being launched from tomorrow, the Minister alleged that the TDP leader had no moral right to fight for land and house sites for the poor in the state.

''Mr Goud had forgotten about the plight of the poor in his own Ranga Reddy district when he was a Minister during the TDP regime'', she added.

UNI