Textile Ministry seeks waiver of handloom weavers debt
03 Jun '09
1 min read
As the part of 100 day agenda of the UPA government, the textile Ministry will soon seek Cabinet's approval for a Rs. 3,200 crore debt waiver scheme for the handloom weavers, said Ms Panabaka Lakshmi, Minister of State for Textiles.
Lakshmi, who was the minister for State for Health and Family Welfare in the previous regime, informed that the Cabinet note on the proposal is ready, which would soon be circulated for inter-ministerial consultations.
Also to provide health benefits to the weavers, the government is of the view of issuing them identity cards, said Ms Lakshmi The textile industry employs 35 million people and is the second largest employment generator industry after agriculture.