Hubballi: The Akhila Karnataka Kaimagga Nekarara Sangha has threatened to intensify protest across the state within a week, if the government fails to fulfil its assurances including hike in the wages of handloom weavers.
Speaking to reporters, Sangha Vice President N J Malawade said a protest staged recently was withdrawn following Textiles Minister Rudrappa Lamani and Karnataka Handloom Development Corporation Limited (KHDCL) Chairman Ravindra Kalburgi’s assurance of fulfilling the demands of weavers.Lamenting that weavers were deprived of sufficient work and wages, he added that the wages of weavers had not been revised since the last two years. He demanded that the wages be increased by 50 percent, good quality raw materials be supplied to weavers apart from providing housing, community hall and other facilities.
Malawade demanded Rs 150 Crore special package for the KHDCL which was running under loss. He also said that though clothes were available at the corporation’s godown, the requirements of Social Welfare Department and Woman & Child Welfare Department were supplied from outside, causing Rs. 20 Crore loss to the KHDCL. Hence an inquiry is necessary in this regard, Malawade said.
The KHDCL chairman and managing director should always work from Hubballi office itself, he demanded. More than 10,000 weavers’ families across the state are depending on the KHDCL and steps must be taken for their welfare, he added.
