'CM has not raised voice on weavers'

Karnataka Handloom Development Corporation former president Ravindra P Kalburgi lamented the lack of prominence given to weavers when compared to farmers.

Speaking at a session during the state-level Devanga community convention organised by Karnataka Devanga Sangha and Tarikere taluk Devanga Samaja here on Monday, he said, "Though Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy holds the portfolio of handlooms, he has not raised a voice on weavers so far. The facilities and compensation that are given to farmers should be extended to weavers. Welfare schemes like Kisan Samman Nidhi should be implemented for weavers as well, he demanded.

He said that priority is given for handlooms in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

Devanga Samaja state vice president K N Gajanana said, "The lack of global market facility has proved to be a setback for the handloom sector. There is a need to revive Handloom Corporation.

Earlier, during the inauguration of the convention, Rajya Devanga Nekara Samaja president G Ramesh said, "The state budget has failed to earmark grants for the development of handlooms in the state. The government has also failed to constitute Mudenooru Development Authority to develop the birthplace of Vachana writer Devara Dasimayya.

He said the majority of the youth from the weaver community are unemployed. Higher education is still a distant dream for community members. All the successive governments have neglected the weavers' community. The globalisation and liberalisation have affected weavers.

Inaugurating the convention, MLA D S Suresh said, "The community should not lag behind in development due to political reasons. The Centre has initiated several welfare programmes. The issues of weavers have been limited to the manifesto of a few political parties."