Bengaluru, June 27 (KNN) The handloom weavers of Karnataka have urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to revive the Karnataka Handloom Development Corporation (KHDC) and announce it in the upcoming State budget.

They have also called for a comprehensive study and review of the rules and regulations of the Department of Handlooms and Textiles.

The CM will present a fresh budget on July 7 and it is likely to be around Rs 3.3 lakh crore to Rs 3.35 lakh crore.

Weavers have also urged the newly elected state government to set up the 'Mahatma Gandhi Vastrodyama', an enterprise that will effectively act as a liaison between the market and the producers of eco-friendly handwoven and khadi fabric.

They also urged the government to review current schemes that benefit handloom workers and implement them or come up with new schemes to cover basic needs such as home loans at zero or very low-interest rates, loans for buying new looms at 0% interest, comprehensive health insurance for weavers and their families, retirement benefits and free education for weavers' children.

The letter was sent by the All-India Federation of Handloom Organisations and supported by several eminent personalities, such as theatre director and activist Prasanna, actor Prakash Raj, social worker and founder of Banjara Kasuthi, Asha Patil, fashion designer Prasad Bidapa, social anthropologist Dr AR Vasavi, environmental activist Leo Saldanha and hundreds of handloom supporters across the state, said Sharada Ganesh, convener, All-India Federation of Handloom Organisations, Karnataka.  (KNN Bureau)