Karnataka mandates 25% procurement of govt dept uniforms from KHC

Bengaluru, Dec 19 (KNN) With the aim to support the weaves community in the state, the Karnataka government have decided to procure about 25 per cent of uniforms required for various departments from Karnataka Handloom Corporation.

The Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai chaired a meeting with the representatives of the weaving community and officials on Saturday. During the meeting, it was decided that Nekar Samman scheme would be extended to workers in powerlooms, according to an official release.

The quantity of uniform required to be supplied under Vidya Vikas scheme from Karnataka Handloom and Powerloom Corporations would be fixed and tenders would be floated for the rest. Work order to this effect must be issued in December to ensure the supply at the right time, the meeting resolved.

The state government will also chalk out a scheme to give 50 per cent subsidy to professional weavers. They would also get interest free loan up to Rs 2 lakh.

Other decisions taken at the meeting included issuing occupancy certificates for weavers residing in weavers’ settlements and giving concession from Karnataka State Pollution Control Board norms for weavers who are doing weaving at home by considering it ‘cottage industry’.

The government has also agreed to examine the possibility of providing facilities to workers in weaving units on the lines of what is given to construction workers, and to take decisions before the presentation of State budget.

The meeting was attended by Textile Minister Shankar Patil Munenkoppa, KHDC chairman Siddu Sawadi, MLAs Abhay Patil, Mahadevappa Yadwad, former MLC M.D. Lakshminarayan among others.  (KNN Bureau)